Movement Fund

Coventry Judo Club is a warm, welcoming not-for-profit community hub with a rich legacy of nurturing talent, from Olympic bronze medalist Chelsie Giles (Tokyo 2020) to Paralympic star Sam Ingram (Beijing 2008) and world champion Neil Adams MBE. Led by British Judo Association-qualified coaches, we’re passionate about making judo accessible to all ages and abilities, celebrating diversity with standout female champions like Yasmin Javadian and Becky Telfer. Our classes thrive with juniors and growing adult sessions, while our outreach with the blind society and local schools promotes inclusivity, respect, and balance—core judo values that unite our community.

Why are we crowdfunding?

We’re raising £7,500 to upgrade our dojo with thicker 50mm mats, unlocking a matching £7,500 from Sport England's Movement Fund for a total of £15,000. This will create a safer, more comfortable space, encouraging more adults—especially inactive individuals, seniors, and those with disabilities—to join and stay active in judo. It aligns with the Movement Fund’s goal to activate the inactive, with plans to boost adult participation by 50% in six months based on member feedback. This upgrade builds on our successful programs and inclusive outreach, ensuring judo’s benefits reach everyone.

How we’ll spend the money raised

We’re committed to transparency with every pound you donate. Our £15,000 project (half from crowdfunding, half from the Movement Fund match) will be spent on the purchase of the new 50mm mats

Community impact

Coventry Judo Club is a heartbeat of our community, benefiting over 100 people (60 adults: 40% inactive, 30% disabled, 20% older; 40 juniors) with safer, inclusive judo. It empowers inactive adults to get moving, seniors to improve balance, and those with ADHD or sight impairments to thrive. Beyond sport, our dojo fosters resilience, self-defense, and social bonds, promoting gender equality with our history of female champions. It’s a space for all, reducing activity inequalities and potentially inspiring future stars while strengthening Coventry’s health and unity.

How you can play your part

There are four simple ways to help us reach our target, and make this project a reality.

1. Make a pledge. Don’t delay if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to our success!

2. Spread the word. Share our project on your social media pages and tell the world to get behind us! The more people we reach, the more support we will get.

3. Offer rewards. Get involved if you are a local business by donating things we can offer to our supporters. We will give you a shout out!

4. Fundraise for us. If you want to run your own fundraiser – maybe a sponsored activity or similar – use the 'contact project' button at the top of our page to let us know. Setting up your own page only takes a few minutes and you won’t need any bank details. Just a fun idea!