A sustainable way to raise funds for your club

We've come across a new and ground-breaking club funding and sustainability initiative called Grassboots. This exciting social enterprise provides sports clubs with their own dedicated online marketplace for members and the wider community to buy preloved sportswear and equipment. Mark Lycett and Jason Wethorpe, the team behind Grassboots, take up the story.

Sport is about community and inclusion, the sense of belonging, and the friendships that build confidence and well-being. None of this is achievable without the commitment and dedication of volunteers from within the community. Grassroots clubs are where children and adults build sense of purpose and belonging.?

With club budgets constantly being stretched, seeking more sponsorship continually or relying on one-off events is difficult. The Grassroots platform offers a way for clubs can build on their immediate network by recommending their wider community joins their marketplace; for example, parents from local schools can buy from the club's marketplace, and this is where an additional sustainable funding stream can be generated.

With everyone getting much more familiar with buying preloved, why spend a small fortune on new items when preloved items can save you money, reduce your impact on the environment and help others out with the cost of participation whilst helping out your much-loved club at the same time...it's a win, win.

Members can upload donations directly to the marketplace, and because typically, this is all from within the club community, collection of the purchased items can be made at the clubhouse or training pitches. There is an in-app messenger tool to help arrange that easily.

By allowing clubs to set up their digital marketplaces, they can engage not only their members but also extend to the broader community, like parents from local schools.?

With the incredible community spirit within the rugby family, there is real scope to widen a club's marketplace to friends, family and the wider locality to raise additional club revenue. Who knows, your donation may just allow someone to take up rugby and kick start the journey of the next rugby superstar.

If you think your sports club or even school could benefit from additional funding and help with breaking down the cost barrier of sport participation, please have a look at this fantastic new initiative at?www.grassboots.club?or drop an email to the Grassboots team at?[email protected].

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