Croydon Wanderers Rugby Football Club is celebrating after being awarded £8,200 of National Lottery match funding from Sport England to improve facilities and remove barriers to rugby participation in the local community.
The grant will allow Croydon Wanderers RFC to upgrade changing rooms with women’s changing facilities, install an accessible toilet, improve showers, refurbish the kitchen, and enhance the pitch—creating safe, welcoming, and inclusive spaces for players, volunteers, and visitors.
To unlock the match funding award, Croydon Wanderers RFC is launching a 16-week community Crowdfunder campaign to raise a matching £8,200 from local supporters, bringing the total project fund to £16,400.
Croydon Wanderers RFC President Ian Golding is thrilled that the club has been awarded the funding:
“We are delighted to have secured this funding, which means we can upgrade the quality of our facilities to match the quality of our community rugby initiatives.
As participation continues to grow, particularly among women, girls, and all-abilities players, these facility improvements will ensure everyone feels safe, welcome, and included.
Thank you to everyone who plays the National Lottery; we wouldn’t be able to do this without you.”
One donation. TWICE the impact.
Chairman Peter Norton explained why local community support is vital for this match-funded campaign:
"This is a transformative moment for our club and community. Thanks to Sport England, every pound raised locally will be doubled—turning our £8,200 community target into a £16,400 project fund.
However, the catch is that it’s strictly all or nothing. We need to reach our target by 1st March 2027 to fully unlock Sport England's match funding, so we’re calling on everyone to get behind us and help us cross the finish line.”
Pledge now and DOUBLE your donation.
The ‘Wanderers Front Foot’ Crowdfunder campaign is now live for 16 weeks until 1st March 2027. Members of the public, local businesses, and club alumni can support the campaign by making a pledge, offering exclusive rewards, or sponsoring games and equipment.
Visit the Wanderers Front Foot campaign page to learn more and to make a pledge.
About National Lottery
National Lottery players raise £30m every week for good causes, funding arts, heritage, sports, voluntary and charity projects around the UK. For more information on good causes in your area, go to www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk
About Sport England
Sport England is a public body and invests up to £300 million National Lottery and government money each year in projects and programmes that help people get active and play sport.
It wants everyone in England, regardless of age, background, or ability level, to feel able to engage in sport and physical activity. That’s why a lot of its work is specifically focused on helping people who do no, or very little, physical activity and groups who are typically less active—like women, disabled people and people on lower incomes.