The Sport and Recreation Alliance is delighted to announce that nominations for our flagship Community Sport and Recreation Awards are open for 2026, as we celebrate the very best of grassroots sport and recreation from across the country.
Our awards programme has been running for over 25 years, celebrating the full breadth and power of sport and recreation and the volunteers that support it, from rowing projects and rugby clubs to boccia and badminton groups.
As has long been the case, volunteers continue to be the bedrock on which grassroots sport and recreation is built, and it simply would not survive without them. With this in mind, we are keen to encourage nominations for volunteers across our categories, to ensure they receive the recognition they deserve.
Submitting an entry is simple and free, and we are keen to hear about projects, initiatives, and inspirational individuals that work with people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. Each winner will receive a £500 prize as extra recognition for their incredible work.
Winners will be crowned at a special event later this year, at an exciting location to be confirmed soon!
Following on from the success of last year’s Youth Edition to mark our 90th anniversary, we have revamped the awards to better reflect the current grassroots landscape. There are still eight awards categories, and you can apply through the link in the title of each award below. Nominations close at 23:59 on 11 September.
Recognises a community club, facility, or space that has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to environmental sustainability and climate action. This award celebrates organisations implementing innovative, eco-friendly changes to reduce their carbon footprint, eliminate waste, conserve natural resources, and champion green practices within grassroots sport and recreation.
Celebrates an initiative that intentionally uses sport, recreation, or physical activity as a powerful mechanism to improve the mental resilience, emotional wellbeing, and social connectedness of its participants.
Recognising the trailblazers rewriting the rulebook. This award celebrates clubs and organisations that modernise their sport, or way of working, to make lives easier or attract a new audience. Whether through innovative digital tools (including AI), flexible new game formats, or "pay-and-play" apps that eliminate the need for traditional membership, these clubs are successfully adapting to modern consumer habits.
Honours an exceptional project or initiative - including those driven by partnership - to transform physical activity levels or address deep-rooted social issues through sport. The award recognises the many ways in which sport and recreation have a unique ability to drive social change.
Applauds an extraordinary individual whose tireless dedication, selfless volunteering, or inspirational leadership has had a transformative and lasting impact on their grassroots club or wider community.
Celebrates clubs and organisations creating positive, inclusive environments that successfully keep children and young people (aged 5–25) active for life. This category specifically recognises trailblazers who proactively tackle the major youth "drop-off" milestones - such as supporting teenage girls through the physical and emotional changes of puberty, and creating flexible pathways for young people transitioning out of full-time education.
Community Club of the Year Award
The ultimate flagship award for a grassroots club that demonstrates excellence across the board, proving itself to be an indispensable, vibrant, and well-governed hub for its local community.
Celebrates a project or club that actively champions underrepresented or marginalised groups, to ensure that everyone experiences a sense of safety, value, and belonging in sport and recreation.
Find out more about our special Community Sport and Recreation Awards: Youth Edition 2025, and the 2024 edition of the Awards.
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