Growth & Participation Fund
Scottish Rugby has now launched a £1M funding package to stimulate Growth and Participation in the club and schools’ game. The funding stream has been established from the £6.5M Scottish Government funding announced in April 2021.
The Growth and Participation fund will see £5M injected directly into the domestic game over the next five years to support sustainable improvements in player numbers.
A £1M package will be available each year, and is split into two distinct strands; Major Capital Investment (£500K)* and Growing the Game (£500K).
The funding is linked directly to Scottish Rugby’s Strategy and will embrace our strategic priorities.
If your club is successful, you will receive a grant agreement, stating the purpose of the grant which will contain our terms and conditions, along with monitoring and evaluation requirements.
Your grant is intended specifically for what you’ve applied for, and any proposed changes should be discussed with us in advance, with any invoices/receipts kept as evidence of expenditure.
This fund is supported by Scottish Government, therefore all payments will be subject to Scottish Government review and monitoring processes including freedom of information requests.
*Please note the Major Capital Investment strand is now aligned to the Club Sustainability Fund.
Growing the Game
-
Introduction
Aligning itself with Scottish Rugby’s strategic priorities, the Growing the Game strand forms three sub-categories of funding with the aim of supporting sustained growth and development of the community game, with a focus on inclusion and diversity.
There are three distinct categories in the Growing the Game strand of this financial package: Women and Girls’ rugby, Development Environments and State School rugby.
Clubs and schools are able to apply for funding – up to £5,000 and £10,000 – to run a project during the 2025/26 season aligned to one of the sub-categories.
Please note that clubs may only apply to ONE of the three funds.
-
Women and Girls’ Rugby Fund
This fund will support the development of the Women & Girls’ game. Projects considered for this fund should support the development of female volunteers, coaches and match officials as well as those coaches, match officials and volunteers involved in the delivery of the female game.
More information on this strand will be announced in the New Year.
-
Development Environments Fund
This fund will support clubs to improve development environments for players, coaches, volunteers, staff and match officials. The aim of this fund is to create and develop world class environments for clubs to grow and sustain players, harness a workforce and develop volunteers.
More information on this strand will be announced in the New Year.
-
State School Rugby Fund
This fund will help create more opportunities for boys and girls within state schools to participate in rugby by developing accessible models of support with targeted investment within our regions. Clubs and schools can apply in partnership for either £5,000, £7,500 or £10,000 for a project to increase opportunities for boys and girls within state schools.
Applications have now opened to run a project during the 2025/26 season and will remain open until Sunday 26 January 2025. Should your club wish to apply, the application form can be found in The Criteria and Guidance Notes document below:
Growth & Participation: State School Rugby Fund Criteria & Guidance Notes
If you require any further support with your application, please contact your Regional Manager or email [email protected]
Principal Partners
