The GPFA carries out a wide range of work providing services to its members
Grants and Loans
The GPFA awards grants and loans to members to improve their sport and play facilities. Since we gave our first grant of £100 in 1930, we have made over 1400 awards across the county. Our work area covers the historic county boundary of Gloucestershire, which now includes South Gloucestershire, (and we are always happy to support organisations who are located just a little beyond our boundaries). Our grants can also be useful for securing match-funding from other funding bodies.
Grants awarded in 2025 include:
- Chipping Campden Cricket Club – £2,000 for new cricket nets
- North Nibley Parish Council – £2,000 for new playground equipment
- Wickwar Playing Field Association – £2,000 for new BMX pump track
- Churchdown Tennis Club – £1,800 for chainlink fencing replacement
(PLEASE NOTE – AS OF MAY 2025, OUR GRANT AND LOAN SCHEME IS CURRENTLY ON HOLD, WHILE WE REVIEW OUR FINANCES)
Click here to visit the GPFA Grants and Loans page
From April 2019, and continuing into 2025, GPFA has been the administrator of the Gloucester City Council Pitch Improvement Grant scheme. Please click here for further information.
Site Visits
Free site visits to advise on outdoor playgrounds, playing fields, sports pitches and other recreational areas. Our impartial advice is much valued by members and has helped them to maintain and improve their facilities
Funding Advice
Fundraising advice for sport and recreation projects plus assistance in completing applications. Our support has enabled members to secure significant external funding for their projects
Playing Field and Playground Assessment Scheme
A free non-technical assessment of your playing fields and playgrounds with an easy to follow report. Available on request.
Training
We offer preference booking and reduced rates for training courses we organise (including very popular playground management seminars for volunteers, councillors and clerks).
Also, we can provide basic on-site training for those involved in Routine Inspections of Playgrounds.
For details of our courses click here
The Playing Field
We send our members a free PDF newsletter with details of what’s happening in the county. This is useful to see what other groups and councils are doing in the parks, and whether it can also be done in yours! Click below to see a previous edition.
Youth Sports Start Up Fund
Start Up grants for new sports clubs to encourage sports participation amongst young people. The GPFA has helped establish new clubs across the county. Click below for further details
(PLEASE NOTE: AS OF MAY 2025, THE YOUTH SPORT START-UP GRANT SCHEME IS NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE)
The GPFA Honourable Company of Gloucestershire Award
(The scheme was paused for 2024, but will be running again in 2025).
These awards recognise the achievements of our young sports persons with a bursary towards training and equipment costs.
Click here for further details of the award.