Michael Austin Harlick Sports Awards
This grant programme is funded by the Michael Austin Harlick fund. Michael lived in Gosport and was badly injured as a prisoner of war in World War II. He devoted much of his life to sport in Hampshire, leaving his estate to reward and support sporting achievements of Hampshire’s young people.
The aim of this grant programme is to provide funding to sport groups towards the cost of sporting awards for young people aged 4-18. Grants are available to help with the purchase of challenge cups, shields, medals for leagues and open competitions. Awards for internal club competitions and awards for participation are not eligible for funding.
Michael Austin Harlick Fund offers grants of £200 – £1,000 for not-for-profit community organisations. The fund will only make grants to organisations based in AND supporting work within Hampshire (including Portsmouth and Southampton).
HIWCF: This fund is administered by HIWCF. HIWCF’s core aim is to tackle poverty and inequality. This grant programme is designed to support this goal through meeting our impact theme around ‘Health and wellbeing’.
Programme Overview
Status: Open
Opening Date: 26/01/2026
Closing Date: 26/10/2026
Minimum Grant: £200
Maximum Grant: £1000
Location: Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton
Criteria
Eligibility
Applications to this grant programme will need to meet BOTH of the following programme criteria.
1) Your application must be for funding towards costs of awards for young people aged 4-18 in formal education at primary or secondary level (including sixth form college or equivalent) participating in leagues and open competitions only.
AND
2) Your organisation must be based in AND supporting work within Hampshire (including Portsmouth and Southampton).
The following groups are eligible to apply:
– County and District Junior Sports Associations
– Hampshire School Sports Associations
– Cluster groups of schools and individual schools when applying for activities which cover/are hosting a group of schools (eg swimming galas)
– Groups working on barriers to inclusion in sports and physical activity for young people
– Clubs hosting Open tournaments
Applicants may only receive one grant in a 12 month period.
Exclusions
– Organisations NOT providing services for the benefit of residents in Hampshire, Portsmouth or Southampton. Applications from the Isle of Wight are ineligible under the original provision of the Will of Michael Austin Harlick.
– We will not fund national charities where local branches cannot demonstrate local independence in terms of governance, bank accounts etc.
– Applications from private clubs with restricted membership will not be accepted.
– International projects and travel.
– Any party political activity.
– Commercial ventures.
– Proselytising activities ie active promotion of a specific religion or belief system.
Please note that you will be required to attach a document to your application form that outlines the quotes you have obtained for the cups, medals etc that you wish to purchase with the funding.
Please allow a 4–6-week lead time from submission of your application to funding decision.
Contact us
If you have any questions, please get in touch with us by emailing grantsadmin@hiwcf.com