Supporting You
Our sports grants are aimed specifically at supporting individuals and small groups of serving personnel regardless of their chosen sport, whether or not they are members of a sport association or the level at which they are competing.
As well as our sports grants, the Fund provides financial support directly to the RAF Sport Associations so it is worth considering joining an association if you aren’t already a member.
More information about the RAF Sport Associations can be found here.
Available Funding
Individual Funding
Annual funding can be applied for to assist with the costs of your chosen sporting activities, such as kit, specialist equipment, competition or event entrance fees, and training. Applications for charitable support are also considered by the Fund for sporting activities that are not recognised for public funding or an official RAF Sport Association sport.
Group Funding
Charitable funding can be applied for to support group participation in expeditions, UK and overseas visits, tours and other events that are sports or physical activity related (but not Force Development (FD or Adventurous Training (AT)). For kit and equipment at a Station level please apply via our Station Grants funding programme.
Recommended Clothing & Equipment Suppliers
We have selected clothing and equipment suppliers who can provide excellent value for money to RAF personnel whether buying as an individual, for a Sports Team or for your Sport Association. These four suppliers align with the RAF Central Fund sustainability goals, offer competitive prices with additional RAF discounts, and provide high-quality products suitable for all levels of sporting activity, from entry level to competitive standards. They are also committed to delivering attentive and reliable customer service.
How To Apply
1
Policy and Guidance
- Carefully read the relevant guidance documents paying particular attention to the Sports Grants Policy.
- Our grant year runs from 1 January to 30 September 2026. Any applications submitted after this date will not be considered.
- Applications must be submitted on the relevant 2026 application form and only associated with costs incurred in 2026.
- Items bought prior to your application submission date will not be funded as we do not support retrospective funding.
2
Fill In Your Application
- Download and complete the relevant application form, ensuring you are only requesting funding for items/activities that are deemed essential for participation in your chosen sport or physical activity.
- Incomplete submissions or incorrectly detailed forms may cause delay or could result in your application being declined.
- Correctly detailed forms should be signed, dated and sent to the relevant endorser for your sport and competing level for their endorsement.
- Once endorsed, completed application forms should be emailed to: sportsgrants@rafcf.org.uk. Please note, only electronic applications will be accepted.
3
Application Screening
- Application submissions will be acknowledged by email marking the date of receipt.
- If you have not received a receipt of your application email then please contacts us well in advance of the submission deadline of 30 September 2026.
- Submission to your endorser will not be taken as confirmation that your application has been received by the Fund.
- Applications will be reviewed by the Fund’s grants team on a first-come-first-served basis.
- Approved grant applicants will be notified by email detailing when the charitable grant funding will be paid.
2026 Application Downloads
See Stories
Sgt Luke James
After many hours on court, I was selected to train with the RAF tennis squad, travelling back to the UK each month. As the current Deputy Director of the RAF Lawn Tennis Association, I am extremely grateful to the RAF Central Fund for their continued support.
Chf Tech Ross Mallen
I joined the RAF at 16 back in 2001 as a Trade Group 5 Gen Tech E. I was already competing in Cross Country Mountain Biking and was quickly swept into a raft of new events not previously known to me.