IS YOUR CLUB
A GAME
CHANGER?
Cost should never be the reason a young person misses out on sport. Sports Bank removes the financial barriers – kit, subs, equipment, participation costs – so every child gets their chance.
Four levels. One movement.
Clubs progress through levels as they strengthen their commitment to inclusion.
The aim is continuous improvement – not one-off compliance.
56%
All must-haves achieved. Join now and be part of the founding cohort.
BRONZE
57-70%
Must-haves met plus early additional contributions to inclusion.
71-85%
Strong commitment across both required and additional criteria.
86%+
Exemplary clubs leading the way on inclusion and community impact.
The criteria
Must-Haves (56% total)
8%
Membership donation tick box
Include a voluntary donation option to support low-income young people during standard membership sign-up.
8%
Bursaries (min. 2% of participants)
Provide bursaries covering subs, kit and training costs. A club with 270 members must offer a minimum of 5 bursaries. Clubs under 100 members must provide at least 1.
8%
Sports Bank cupboard
Allocate space for a lockable storage cage to house Sports Bank donated equipment. SLA provides pricing.
8%
Display your accreditation
Prominently display the Game Changer badge online, on correspondence and physically at your clubhouse.
8%
Volunteer commitment
Contribute parent/guardian volunteers equivalent to 1% of youth participants for at least one community day annually.
8%
Executive attendance
At least two club executives attend the annual Game Changers meeting.
8%
Online community
Join the SLA Game Changers online group (currently WhatsApp) to share, support and stay connected.
WOULD-Like-to-Haves (additional points)
0-10%
Fundraising support
Help SLA fundraise in creative ways — events, challenges, campaigns.
0-5%
Awareness-raising
Actively promote Sports Bank and its mission across your club’s channels and community.
0-8%
Facility sharing
Offer facilities to suitable community organisations or clubs at low or no cost.
0-6%
Coaching support
Provide coaches free of charge for community sessions to develop young people without access to paid coaching.
0-12%
Girl-specific initiatives
Become a period-supported club. Provide sports bras and tackle the specific barriers that cause girls to drop out of sport in their teens.
0-3%
Additional storage
Provide extra storage facilities for wider community use beyond the standard Sports Bank cupboard.
Why join?
What your club gets.
NATIONAL RECOGNITION
Your club is identified as a leader in inclusive sport — a badge that carries real weight with sponsors, parents and participants.
A founder’s place in history
Join now and you’re not just a member — you’re a Founder. Part of the first national movement to tackle sports poverty at scale.
Access to Sports Bank resources
Donated kit, equipment and guidance delivered to your club through the Sports Bank network.
A stronger club
The Game Changers criteria are designed to make your club better — more inclusive, better governed, more attractive to new members and sponsors.
Community connection
Join a growing network of clubs, schools and organisations all working toward the same goal. Share ideas, support and resource.
Impact reports
SLA produces publicly accessible reports demonstrating collective impact — so your contribution is visible and valued.
READY TO
APPLY?
Download the application form, complete it and send it back to us. We’ll review it, score it against the criteria and send you a full report. Accreditation goes live once criteria are verified.
The Game Changers programme is open to sports clubs across the UK. Applying now makes your club a founding member of a national movement.
Need support? Or want to help?
Whether you’re a club, a school, a parent or a donor — we want to hear from you.