‘The Sports Challenge is our way of helping them secure the vital equipment, training, and facilities they need’
Last year’s winners, the Selby Swans Gymnastics Academy(Image: Submitted)
A fundraising competition that raised over £66,000 for local grassroots sports last year is returning, and the search is on for 10 clubs to take part. The Cash for Kids Sports Challenge 2026 officially opens for applications on August 10th, offering local sports clubs and community groups across East Yorkshire a unique opportunity to boost their funds.
The challenge gives 10 selected clubs a month to battle it out to raise the most money. The clubs are tasked with raising as much as they can between September 26 and October 26, 2026. At the end of the fundraising period, Cash for Kids will top up the totals with grand prizes, including a £5,000 top-up grant for the club that raises the most. Every single penny raised by the clubs during the challenge is kept by them to support local children and young people up to the age of 18.
Last year’s challenge was a success across the region, raising £66,406.05. The reigning champions, Selby Swans Gymnastics Club, took home £21,097.27 (which included the £5,000 top-up grant) to help build an inclusive environment for local children.
Stacey, Co-owner of Selby Swans, said: “I signed up to the Sports Challenge not expecting to be a chosen club. However, a few days later, when I received the call to tell us we were one of the chosen ten, we went straight into fundraising mode! The kids got involved in all kinds of ideas, from bag packs and Halloween discos to online auctions. It was a crazy time, but it was so worth it. We now believe we can create a specially designed SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) area for the children in our community with additional needs. The Cash for Kids Sports Challenge is amazing.”
There are once again 10 spots available for this year’s challenge, and competition is expected to be fierce when applications open on August 10.
Laura Stead, Charity Fundraising Executive for Cash for Kids, said: “Grassroots sports clubs do so much more than just keep kids active—they build confidence, foster friendships, and sit at the very heart of our local communities. But we know how incredibly tough it is for clubs to keep up with rising costs right now. The Sports Challenge is our way of helping them secure the vital equipment, training, and facilities they need. Because we can only accept 10 clubs this year, we are urging coaches, parents, and committees to get their applications in early. We want to help you make your club’s dreams a reality!”
Applications close on September 14, with the final 10 clubs announced shortly after, ahead of the fundraising kick off on September 26. Clubs supporting children and young people up to 18 years old can find out more and request an information pack by emailing eastyorkslincs@cashforkids.org.uk
Did you know you can make Hull Live a preferred source of Hull news in Google, which will mean you get more of our breaking news, exclusives, and must-read stories straight away? Here’s more information about what this means and how to do it – you can also do it straight away by clicking here .