12th June 2025
Credit: Sport England
Sport and physical activity organisations can bid for between £300 and £15,000 from the Movement Fund to promote environmental sustainability.
Sport England chair Chris Boardman announced details of a new multi-million-pound fund to help create the ‘greenest sports sector in the world’, speaking at the BASIS annual conference on June 11.
The updated eligibility guidance confirms up to £16 million, 10% of the £160 million available via the fund, will be reserved for green sports initiatives that help the sector respond to the impact of climate change.
Chris said: “Today’s announcement represents the biggest ever package of support for the sports sector as part of our ambition to create the greenest sports industry in the world.
“There are two big reasons why our sector must lead the way. First, extreme weather and environmental pollution – whether that’s to our pitches, courts or waterways – is having a devastating impact on physical activity levels. It’s damaging our nation’s health and productivity.
“Second, sport has a unique global megaphone and influence on wider society. By leading the way and advocating for change, we can inspire wider society to act.”
Eligibility
To be successful, projects must now meet of one of six criteria:
- Carbon emissions: travel and facilities
- Circular economy: supply chains, products and waste
- Blue-green environment quality and use
- Biodiversity
- Adapting to climate change and extreme weather events
- Just transition: inequalities, inclusion and participation.
The guide provides examples of projects that might be successful, including reducing energy use through solar panels and electric batteries; reducing waste and single-use plastics; and measures to improve resilience and risk of flooding of sports pitches.
Free support for sports organisations
Also announced at the BASIS Sustainable Sport Conference 2025, was the launch of a new strategic partnership between BASIS and Sport England, focused on accelerating environmental sustainability across the sport and physical activity sector.
The partnership is designed to offer optional, free, and tailored support to all system partners, helping them build skills and confidence to take credible, proportionate action on environmental sustainability.
This new support offer includes access to:
- Tools and resources
- Bespoke learning opportunities
- Guidance on developing effective action plans and policies
- Support for understanding organisational impact and identifying opportunities for positive change
- Networking forums to share ideas, tips, and best practices.
Support will be flexible and responsive, designed to meet partners where they are in their sustainability journey, whether just beginning or already leading the way. It is built directly on the needs and priorities voiced by partners and aims to integrate sustainability into increasing participation in sport and physical activity in communities and environments that matter most.
Delivered by BASIS, a respected leader in sustainable sport with over 12 years of experience, this partnership will serve as a cornerstone in driving meaningful, credible action across the sector.
Further details on how to link in with BASIS will follow in due course.