Sported Helps Japan Arts & PSUK Judo Club Thrive
June 03, 2025
In the summer of 2023, a chance discovery set the stage for transformation at the PSUK Judo Club, hosted at the Japan Arts Centre.
While exploring new avenues for funding and to improve the member experience at this club, Jo Hunt – Founder and Coach at Japan Arts Centre and PSUK Judo Club, came across Sported, a UK-wide charity that supports a network of 5,000 grassroots sports clubs and groups delivering physical activity.
The team quickly connected with Kathryn James, Sported’s South West Regional Manager, who took the time to understand the club’s needs and offer tailored guidance.
The primary challenge for the club, like many others, was funding. With Kathryn’s support, PSUK Judo Club successfully applied for grants from Sport England and the London Marathon Charitable Trust. Notably, all submitted applications were successful, giving the club a crucial financial boost when they needed it the most.
“Like many clubs, funding was our main issue and Kathryn provided us with great support and guidance in making grant applications to Sport England and the London Marathon Fund to access funds for our club to grow and develop.
“We were delighted that 100% of the applications we submitted with the help of Kathryn were successful. She also visited our club to meet with our committee to provide us with advice and guidance on improving the governance of our club and also the importance of partner engagement in building community ties.”
But Sported’s support went beyond funding. Kathryn visited the club to offer hands-on advice on governance improvement and emphasised the value of partner engagement in strengthening local community ties.
Speaking of the support that Sported provide, Kathryn said: “Sported is focused on helping grassroots sports clubs serve their local communities.
“To be able to work with Jo and the club, to see them receive the funding from the bids they’ve put in, and to guide them on other areas of their operations, it’s what we want to be able to do with clubs across the country.”
Monthly funding bulletins from Sported continue to alert the club to new funding opportunities and continue to drive the commercial side of the club forwards—many of which they wouldn’t have discovered on their own.
Thanks to the joining the Sported network, the Japan Arts Centre and PSUK Judo Club have not only secured essential funding but also gained strategic insight to grow sustainably.
“The support we’ve received from Sported has been outstanding. It’s allowed our club to develop and flourish during difficult times.”
For clubs looking to join the Sported network – get yourself signed up, it will make you look at your club from a fresh perspective and it will provide you with all the ongoing support and guidance that you need to achieve those goals.
Sported provides its network with free support, resources and guidance, as well as regular webinars to sign up to. Through its expert Volunteer Consultants, you can also receive direct input on areas such as fundraising, business planning, and governance.
For any club considering joining the Sported network, the message is clear: “It’s a game-changer.”
From fresh perspectives to continued mentorship—all at no cost—Sported equips clubs with the tools they need to succeed.
Click here to find out how Sported can support your club
