The Sport and National Governing Body (NGB) Recognition Process is currently closed to all new applications while the UK sports councils (Sport England, Sport Northern Ireland, sportscotland, Sport Wales and UK Sport) undertake a review of the recognition policy and process.
We expect to re-open the process by Spring 2026. Please check back here for further updates.
Our intention was to re-open the process in Summer 2025. However, the need to ensure that the new recognition policy is suitable for all involved and, in order to comply with statutory consultation timelines, it's been necessary to re-schedule this.
We appreciate that this delay may be frustrating to NGBs that are eager to apply for recognition. In the meantime, we encourage them to continue developing their sports and their organisation’s governance.
You may wish to refer to the previous Recognition Policy (2017), and its associated Applicant Guidance Document, to gain an understanding of the criteria we previously required NGBs to meet in order to become recognised – these can be found below.
There's also helpful information in the Code for Sports Governance.
While the Code is aimed at organisations we fund, its requirements can act as a useful guide to any organisation that wants to improve its corporate governance.
Successful recognition applicants have been expected to meet the equivalent of Tier 1 of the Code.
You may wish to refer to the previous Recognition Policy (2017), and its associated Applicant Guidance Document, to gain an understanding of the criteria we previously required NGBs to meet in order to become recognised - these can be found below.
There's also helpful information in the Code for Sports Governance.
While the Code is aimed at organisations we fund, its requirements can act as a useful guide to any organisation that wants to improve its corporate governance.
Successful recognition applicants have been expected to meet the equivalent of Tier 1 of the Code.