Sports clubs in Exmouth are invited to apply for a share of a £100,000 funding pot boost for to pay for improvements, upgrades or expansion.
Exmouth Town Council has launched the Sports Club Improvement Fund in a bid to help local clubs thrive and benefit the community.
The funding has come from developer cash paid to the authority to boost infrastructure and services in return for building in Exmouth.
The Exmouth authority said it recognised the importance of sports clubs to the health and wellbeing of the town as a whole.
Councillor Pauline Stott, chair of the Section 106 and CIL working party, said: “We’re really pleased to be launching this fund to help our local sports clubs take the next step.
“We know that securing major investment can be challenging without the resources to get projects off the ground, and this is about providing that early support.
“By helping clubs get to that ‘shovel-ready’ stage, we’re giving them a much stronger chance of bringing forward high-quality facilities that will benefit the whole community.”
The town council said the fund is open to established, non-profit sports clubs that can demonstrate secure land tenure, whether through ownership, a long-term lease, or written landowner consent.
Grants of up to £10,000 are available per organisation. Funding can be used to pay for costs such as architect and consultancy fees, planning applications, ecological and environmental reports, technical surveys, and support with external funding bids.
The council said funding will not be available to support routine maintenance, equipment purchases, operational or running costs, staff wages, or retrospective expenditure.
A town council spokesperson said: “This locally controlled funding stream allows the council to directly invest in infrastructure priorities identified by the community – including the enhancement of sports facilities.
“The Neighbourhood Plan highlights the need for improved and expanded sports provision to meet the demands of Exmouth’s growing population.
“However, many funding programmes require projects to have planning permission, secured match funding, and clear delivery timescales – creating barriers for clubs at an early stage of development.”
They added: “The Sports Club Improvement Fund has been established to address this challenge by providing targeted grants for preparatory work, helping clubs to progress their projects.
“This includes access to professional and technical expertise, as well as support for planning, design, environmental assessments and surveys.
“By enabling clubs to undertake this preparatory work, the fund aims to strengthen future funding applications and support the delivery of sustainable, high-quality community sports facilities.”
The town council receives 25 per cent of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) money – a charge set against developers building in Exmouth.
The locally-controlled cash has been agreed through the Exmouth Neighbourhood Plan, a blueprint which shapes the town’s future planning decisions.
Application forms and more information can be found here.
