How Energy for Tomorrow helped sports clubs go green
Across the UK, local sports clubs are at the heart of communities. They’re places where friendships form, skills develop and people come together to move, play and belong. But with rising energy costs and ageing facilities, many clubs face a growing challenge: how to stay open and sustainable for the future.
That’s where Energy for Tomorrow, a partnership between British Gas, Team GB / Paralympics GB and Crowdfunder, came in. The fund helped community sports clubs raise money for energy-saving improvements through crowdfunding and matched funding, unlocking thousands of pounds for vital upgrades that reduce emissions and running costs.
Five inspiring clubs took part in the first round of the programme, together raising more than £140,000 from over 850 supporters. With matched funding from British Gas’ Energy for Tomorrow initiative, each club turned its plans for a greener, more sustainable future into reality and even gained some extra star power along the way.
Athletes lending their voices
To give the campaign an extra boost, Team GB and ParalympicsGB athletes joined forces with the participating clubs, using their social media platforms to help drive awareness and donations. Olympic BMX gold medallist Charlotte Worthington, sprinter Desiree Henry, and Paralympian swimmer Ellie Simmonds all backed the projects, sharing posts about how local clubs shape the next generation of talent.
Ellie Simmonds released a heartfelt video on Instagram celebrating the campaign and the importance of grassroots sport. Meanwhile, Desiree Henry went a step further, offering five tickets to her Athlete Masterclass sessions as a reward on one of the projects.
Case study: Ashton Cricket, Bowls and Tennis Club
In Ashton-under-Lyne, Ashton Cricket, Bowls and Tennis Club launched a campaign to install solar panels and battery storage to make its clubhouse more energy-efficient. The project raised an amazing £33,000 from 159 supporters, boosted by matched funding from the Energy for Tomorrow scheme. The funds are being used to cover installation costs, battery storage capacity and panel protection.
The project’s primary aims include promoting environmental sustainability, reducing energy costs, enhancing the club’s reputation and increasing energy independence. Longer term, the improvements are designed to attract future grants, strengthen community engagement, and ensure compliance with future energy regulations.
The campaign was supported by Desiree Henry, who promoted the project to her followers and offered her Athlete Masterclass as a crowdfunding reward to five supporters, helping Ashton reach new audiences and attract fresh support from the community.
Case study: Didsbury Lawn Tennis Club
In Manchester, Didsbury Lawn Tennis Club took on a pressing issue: outdated and inefficient heating. The clubhouse relied on four ageing electric heaters that were costly to run, slow to heat up and sometimes left on overnight, creating both safety risks and wasted energy.
The club’s solution was to install an energy-efficient heat pump system, a modern, sustainable upgrade that’s three to four times more efficient than standard electric heating. The project smashed through both its initial £6,900 target and their stretch goal, raising over £8,500 in total from 76 supporters and supported by British Gas’s Energy for Tomorrow fund, which matched every £1 raised with an extra £2, tripling each donation’s impact.
With the new system, Didsbury expects to reduce heating costs by around two-thirds while creating a warmer, safer, and more welcoming clubhouse for its members and the wider community. Supported with social media posts by Olympic champion Charlotte Worthington, the campaign encouraged local residents to back a project that improves comfort, sustainability and access to local sport.
Grassroots impact
Other participating clubs included Helensburgh Cricket and Rugby Club, Hartlepool Rugby Club, and The Skate Farm. From solar panels to LED floodlights, each project showed how local sport can lead the way in the transition to cleaner energy.
Together, these clubs are cutting their carbon footprint and creating spaces that are not only more efficient but also more welcoming for their communities.
A partnership built on purpose
Reflecting on the collaboration, Graeme Roy, Head of Partnerships at Crowdfunder, said:
“We are delighted to work with British Gas and the Energy For Tomorrow team in supporting community sports clubs to become more energy efficient and sustainable. Through innovative crowdfunding and matched funding, we’re helping clubs reduce their environmental impact while freeing up vital resources to invest back into grassroots sport and local communities.”
The Energy for Tomorrow partnership has shown what’s possible when purpose-driven funding meets the passion of local people. By combining community crowdfunding with corporate support, it’s lighting the way for a cleaner, more resilient future, one club at a time.