As part of our Community Grants Programme this year we are delighted to be able to fund the following Round three projects thanks to the generous support of the players of The National Lottery and The Heritage Fund.
If you’re interested in hearing about and applying for future rounds of Sporting Heritage Community Grant funding please sign up for our free newsletter
British Baseball Federation (BBF)
Andy Brown, Official GB Baseball Artist. Andy Brown
Our project addresses the under-representation of women in British baseball. By highlighting the achievements of female athletes, we aim to inspire future generations and encourage greater participation in the sport. We will work with official GB Baseball artist, Andy Brown to document the GB Women’s National Baseball Team at the 2025 European Championships through a series of paintings, and develop an exhibition to be displayed at the National Baseball & Softball Complex at Farnham Park to engage diverse communities, including women, girls, and families, and ensure broad engagement through accessible formats and digital content.
Find out more: www.britishbaseball.org.uk / Facebook @BritishBaseball
Swansea Museum
Women’s football team, Louis Marx Toy Factory. Swansea 1960s
Building on a recent significance review of the museum’s collections, and the gaps it helped us identify, we are dedicated to uncovering the hidden histories of women in sport in Swansea. Our project will work with community groups, sporting clubs, governing bodies and sport development officers to enhance our collection to better share the heritage of under-represented women, ensuring their achievements are integral to our future social history displays. By doing so, we aim to celebrate women’s history and sporting achievements, making them a prominent part of our museum’s redevelopment and redisplay.
Find out more: www.swanseamuseum.co.uk / Instagram @swansea_museum
The Shrimpers Trust
Our project will uncover the hidden histories of Southend United’s Black and Minority Ethnic players through our unique set of 11 illustrated trading cards. Each card tells a story, paired with lesson plans and information sheets to spark classroom discussions on identity, representation, and inclusion.
Our S.T.A.R. (Sport, Teamwork, Allies, and Representation) workshop will engage Year 6 pupils across at least 12 schools, exploring themes of intersectionality, challenging stereotypes, and discussing the impact of diverse role models in football and society. By involving young people and underrepresented communities, we aim to promote meaningful dialogue, celebrate diversity in sport, and foster a legacy of inclusion, allyship, and pride in local sporting heritage.
Find out more: www.shrimperstrust.co.uk / Facebook @ShrimpersTrust
Goalball UK
Goalball UK / Kane Haywood-Rodgers
We are dedicated to uncovering the hidden history of Goalball in the UK. Goalball is a unique sport and its history and heritage is currently overlooked. Our project will capture the stories of the founders and early pioneers, celebrating the positive impact of this Paralympic sport on the lives of people with visual impairments. By sharing these stories, we aim to raise awareness and inspire future generations.
Find out more: www.goalballuk.com / Facebook @GoalballUK
Sideline Assembly CIC
Sideline Assembly CIC delivering a football workshop for girls
Our project will capitalise on the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 to help shine a light on the untold stories of women and girls in sport, so often overlooked by the media and sporting leaders. We will explore the stories of the women and girls who have represented England over the years, and with a host city on the doorstep in Sussex, we will have a special focus on the history of the women’s game in this area. We will also be delving into the unique aspects of women’s sport, which attracts not only avid sports fans, but often those interested in activism, feminism, and social justice.
By collaborating with local schools, girls’ rugby teams, and coaches in the Sussex area we will explore both the history and current issues in women’s rugby. This project aims to understand the experiences of young women at this historic moment and how they can learn from the past.
Find out more: www.sidelineassembly.org/
Leeds Powerchair FC
Powerchair football is a relatively new sport designed for individuals with life-limiting conditions such as MD or CP. It provides a vital support network for players and parents, offering peer support and a sense of community. For many players, training and playing is their only opportunity to socialise and be part of the wider community. Our project will chart the development of the sport in Leeds, the heritage which we build on in the present, and will highlight the importance of this sport in bringing people together and fostering a supportive environment.
We will also produce a short film that will capture the history of the only powerchair football club in Leeds. It will include, video’s of us playing the game, a photo history and oral interviews with players, past and present, along with memories from parents, carers and others who have been involved over the last 12 years of this truly unique clubs development.
Find out more: www.leedspowerchairfc.co.uk / Instagram @leedspowerchairfc
The Living Memory Association
Edinburgh Dynamos ladies football team, 1950. The Living Memory Association
We will collect and share the stories of women from diverse backgrounds, ages, and cultures about their experiences of playing sports at school. This project aims to foster greater understanding between participants and the wider community by showcasing the opportunities available to women in sports across different countries and cultures. In creating this archive of women’s sporting schooldays, and through exhibitions and reminiscence groups in Scotland, we hope to create lasting social value and support for the participants.
Find out more: www.livingmemory.org.uk / Facebook @livingmemoryassociation
Castle House Museum
Castle House Museum, Dunoon
Our project will showcase the hidden histories of Dunoon’s female football pioneers of the 1970s. By preserving their stories, and encouraging the participation of current local female football teams to record their experiences, we aim to ensure that underrepresented communities are celebrated and better represented in the museum collection. An exhibition will feature photos and objects from the past and present, highlighting the impact of these pioneers on the local community.
Find out more: www.castlehousemuseum.org.uk / Facebook @CastleHouseMuseum/
Camanachd Association
Badenoch v Inverness ladies Shinty. Camanachd Association
Our project will highlight the hidden history of women’s shinty, ensuring their stories are recognised within Scotland’s sporting heritage. Through inclusive storytelling, we will engage underrepresented groups, including LGBTQ+ individuals and Gaelic speakers. A documentary film will showcase the contributions of women to shinty’s development and encourage broader participation in the sport. By making the film accessible online and screening it at Shinty’s Story – Sgeul na Camanachd, we aim to share and celebrate these histories widely.
Find out more: www.shinty.com / Facebook @camanachdassociation
