Mayo Sports Partnership launches 2026 Club Development Small Grant Scheme
Mayo Sports Partnership has announced details of its Sports Investment Scheme for 2026.
The scheme, supported by Sport Ireland, has a total available fund of €35,000 – which is categorized under three headings: Participation Initiatives, Diversity & Integration Initiatives, and Volunteer Training/Education. Applications can be made here.
Participation Initiatives (€25,000) invites clubs and organisations who have sport/recreation as their central focus to submit proposals which would return participants to sporting activities and/or increase participation amongst disadvantaged groups of the population including people with a disability. (The maximum amount per application is €1,000.)
Diversity & Integration Initiatives (€5,000) invites clubs and organisations to submit physical activity/sport proposals that promote diversity and/or integration.
The Volunteer Training/Education fund (€5,000) is geared towards coach education and general volunteer training. First aid courses, etc, can be supported to a maximum of 50% of the total cost. (This excludes safeguarding courses, as these are already subsidized by Mayo Sports Partnership.)
Since the scheme was established, hundreds of initiatives have been assisted in communities across Mayo. The continued development of Sport for All in clubs has been supported, with considerable awareness of the need to include people with a disability in all sports.
Mayo Sports Partnership chairperson Lyndon Jones commented: “We are delighted to be able support clubs and communities throughout the county through this scheme. I would encourage organisations to apply for initiatives that target participation by groups such as people with a disability, women, disadvantaged youth or ethnic minorities, to name but a few.”
Mayo Sports Partnership head Charlie Lambert added: “A big thank you to Sport Ireland and the Dormant Account Fund for their continued support in making this funding available through Mayo Sports Partnership. With the assistance of Mayo County Council, we would hope to be able to make these allocations, once approved by the Mayo Sports Partnership committee, in June 2026.”
Organisations/groups are asked to note that any capital/building projects are not eligible for investment under the schemes criteria and clubs should refer to the government's Community Facilities Fund (see https://www.sportscapitalprogramme.ie). Other items such as ongoing costs for teams (for example travel costs), competition costs, registration fees, sponsorship, etc, are also not eligible.
All applications are to be made online. The closing date is 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13. The maximum allocation to any one project can be €1,000 (dependent on meeting the criteria and overall quality of the initiative). The Mayo Sports Partnership committee will decide on all successful applications and its recommendations are final. Clubs or groups who require assistance on the scheme can email mayosportspartnership@mayococo.ie or telephone the Mayo Sports Partnership office at (094) 9064360.