Discover two funds that provide up to £150 for memberships and up to £100 for official kit to eligible University of Nottingham home undergraduates
The University of Nottingham is making club sport easier to join by cutting the upfront costs of kit and required memberships. Two new funds—backed by alumni donations and a partnership with official supplier PlayerLayer—help eligible students access training, competition and the social life that comes with clubs.
What’s available
– PlayerLayer Opportunities Fund: vouchers up to £100 to spend at the UoN Sport shop on official PlayerLayer playing or training kit (shirts, training tops and other branded items).
– UoN Sport Opportunities Fund: up to £150 to cover compulsory sport or fitness memberships needed for club participation (for example, gym or pool access).
How the scheme works
The two funds run separately so kit and membership costs are handled clearly. Students apply online during a short application window. UoN Sport checks student status, confirms any club-mandated requirements, and assesses financial need or priority-group eligibility.
Awards are issued as vouchers or membership credits (not cash) and must be redeemed through approved university channels—this helps ensure donor contributions and supplier support are applied as intended.
Key dates
– Applications open: 16 February 2026
– Applications close: 5pm, 27 February 2026
Apply early: short windows let the team process requests quickly and fairly.
Who’s eligible
Priority goes to Home (UK) undergraduates who can demonstrate financial need or belong to priority groups such as mature students, students with disabilities, Black and minority ethnic students, or recipients of the University’s Core or Potential bursaries. For the membership fund, the membership must be mandatory for club participation.
PlayerLayer Opportunities Fund — practical details
– Value: up to £100 per academic year. Vouchers are not convertible to cash and won’t reimburse purchases made before a voucher is issued.
– Use: only for PlayerLayer-branded items sold through the UoN Sport shop.
– How to apply: use the sport centre’s portal and provide proof of student status and club affiliation if kit is compulsory; the sport centre validates applications and issues vouchers subject to availability.
– Tip: clubs can align ordering windows with voucher issuance so members can bulk order or apply vouchers to higher-cost items first.
UoN Sport Opportunities Fund — practical details
– Value: up to £150 toward a mandatory sport or fitness membership.
– Use: covers membership costs required by clubs for training or competition; no retrospective reimbursements.
– How to apply: submit the online form and a club verification confirming the membership is compulsory. Successful applicants receive an electronic voucher or membership credit redeemable through UoN Sport.
– Tip: ask your club officer for a short official confirmation to speed verification; applying early increases chances of receiving support before the season starts.
Benefits and caveats
Benefits
– Removes a major barrier for students who struggle with upfront kit or compulsory membership costs.
– Standardised PlayerLayer kit keeps quality consistent and simplifies bulk orders.
– Voucher-based awards speed processing and protect donor intent by keeping funds in university channels.
Caveats
– Vouchers must be used with approved vendors; they can’t be spent on second-hand or alternative suppliers.
– The monetary caps may not cover entire kit sets or all membership fees.
– Short application windows and verification needs can delay awards if clubs don’t respond quickly.
– If you already paid before receiving approval, you won’t be reimbursed.
Practical tips for applicants and clubs
– Read the fund guidance carefully. Have proof of student status, any bursary letters, and a clear club confirmation that the kit or membership is mandatory.
– Clubs: publish kit and membership requirements clearly and use a standard template for confirmations to speed verification.
– Coordinate bulk orders with UoN Sport so students can combine vouchers and any club discounts efficiently.
What’s available
– PlayerLayer Opportunities Fund: vouchers up to £100 to spend at the UoN Sport shop on official PlayerLayer playing or training kit (shirts, training tops and other branded items).
– UoN Sport Opportunities Fund: up to £150 to cover compulsory sport or fitness memberships needed for club participation (for example, gym or pool access).0
