EGLSF Grants in 2026

This initiative will help transform interest in LGBTQI+-inclusive rugby into active participation and long-term membership. While many people are curious about joining community sports clubs, concerns about discrimination, changing facilities, physical contact and unfamiliar sporting environments can prevent them from taking the first step.

The project addresses these challenges by combining a pilot open training event with the development of a practical inclusion toolkit for the club. The open training session will provide newcomers with a welcoming and supportive introduction to rugby, while the toolkit will establish clear procedures for welcoming participants, managing safeguarding issues and promoting respectful behaviour. 

The initiative builds on Libera Rugby Club's commitment to creating safe spaces for LGBTQI+ people and allies and translates inclusion principles into everyday club practice. By creating a more structured and transparent approach to participation, the project seeks to strengthen trust, confidence and accessibility within grassroots rugby.

Website: https://liberarugbyclub.it/

Email: press@liberarugbyclub.it

Social media: 
Facebook: LiberaRugbyClub
Instagram: liberarugby

Startschuss Queer Sport Hamburg is one of Germany's largest LGBTQI+ sports clubs, with more than 1,000 members across 25 sporting disciplines. Although the club has evolved significantly since its foundation in 1990, its leadership recognises that some groups, including FLINTA members, trans and non-binary people, younger members and international participants, remain underrepresented in both sporting activities and decision-making processes.

This project aims to establish a permanent Diversity Team formally embedded within the club's governance structure. Through research, consultation and community engagement, the team will work closely with members to identify barriers to participation and representation. It will recruit and support representatives from underrepresented groups, establish mechanisms to address conflicts and discrimination, and develop a comprehensive Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan for the coming years. By strengthening participation and representation within the organisation, the project seeks to ensure that the club's governance and culture better reflect the diversity of its membership and the wider LGBTQI+ community.

Website: startschuss.org

Email: awareness@startschuss.org 

Social media: 
Instagram: startschuss.hamburg

This community-driven initiative empowers FLINTA participants through sport, leadership development and collective learning. At the heart of the project is a three-day Sport and Leadership Camp in Fužine (Croatia), designed to provide a safe, supportive environment for participants to explore physical activity, personal growth and community engagement.

The programme combines recreational sport, outdoor activities and interactive workshops covering topics such as body awareness, communication, confidence-building and leadership. 

With a strong focus on young participants, the project seeks to address barriers that often prevent FLINTA individuals from fully engaging in sport, including discrimination, exclusion and restrictive gender norms. Through a participatory approach that values lived experience and peer learning, the initiative creates opportunities for participants to strengthen their skills, build supportive networks and develop greater confidence both within and beyond sporting environments.

Website: https://hr.qsport.info/

Email: qs_weekend@qsport.info;  iva@qsport.info

Social media: 
Facebook: qsport.info
Instagram: queer_sport_zagreb

Swim Together is a comprehensive initiative led by Aquamen Prague, the Czech Republic's only LGBTQI+ swimming club. The project addresses a range of barriers that continue to limit participation in sport, including challenges linked to nationality, age, geography, and sexual orientation. Through a combination of governance improvements, community outreach and sporting activities, the initiative aims to strengthen inclusion within Czech aquatics while expanding opportunities for underrepresented groups.

The project encompasses running a visibility campaign, including representation at the annual Prague Pride, conducting targeted outreach to Ukrainian refugees, older adults and LGBTQI+ people living outside major cities, and hosting a series of open swimming sessions for newcomers. It also includes the introduction of a digital club management system to improve internal organisational capacity. By combining practical organisational development with direct community engagement, Swim Together seeks to strengthen the club and the wider ecosystem of inclusive sport in the Czech Republic. The initiative also aims to increase visibility for LGBTQI+ athletes and create new pathways into swimming for people who may otherwise feel excluded from traditional sporting environments.

Website: https://aquamen.eu/

Email: info@aquamen.eu

Social media: 
Instagram: aquamen_prague

Pan Idræt Copenhagen is Denmark's largest LGBTQI+ sports organisation and has played a leading role in creating inclusive sporting opportunities for more than four decades. As the organisation continues to grow, it faces the challenge of ensuring that its volunteer-led structure remains sustainable, effective and capable of meeting the evolving needs of its diverse membership.

This project focuses on strengthening the organisation's volunteer leadership pipeline and improving governance across the club. Building on lessons from the EGLSF-led PLUSS project, Pan Idræt will develop and pilot a structured leadership programme to support current and future volunteers. The initiative will provide practical tools, training and guidance to help volunteers take on leadership responsibilities with confidence, while promoting inclusive membership practices. By investing in people and organisational development, the project aims to ensure that Pan Idræt can continue to provide welcoming, high-quality sporting environments for LGBTQI+ people and allies, while sharing valuable knowledge and resources with the wider EGLSF network.

Website: https://panidraet.dk/en/about-the-pan-indraet/sports-policy-work/game-project/

Email: eu@panidraet.dk

Social media: 
Facebook: panidraet
Instagram: panidraet

PAS CU PAS: Expanding the Map of LGBTQI+ Sports in Romania is a national capacity-building initiative led by Club Sportiv Ocazional, Romania's only officially registered LGBTQI+ sports club. The project responds to the limited availability of LGBTQI+-inclusive sports organisations across the country and seeks to support the development of new groups, activities and networks beyond the capital city.

The initiative combines research, knowledge-sharing and practical training to help individuals and organisations interested in creating inclusive sporting opportunities in their local communities. Activities will include mapping interest in LGBTQI+ sport across Romania, developing a practical guide for organising inclusive sports activities, and producing a dedicated resource on establishing an LGBTQI+ sports club. Representatives from emerging groups and community organisations will then take part in a two-day workshop focused on good practices, opportunities for European collaboration, and hands-on learning through participation in sports activities. By creating opportunities for learning and networking, the project aims to strengthen the foundations of the LGBTQI+ sports movement in Romania.

Website: 
http://clubsportivocazional.ro

Email: 
contact@clubsportivocazional.ro
oanakoulpy@gmail.com

Social media: 
Facebook: csocazional
Instagram: clubsportivocazional

This is an inclusive charity run organised by Seitenwechsel, a Berlin-based queer-feminist sports club with a long history of promoting participation, empowerment and social inclusion through sport. It is not just a sporting event but also a public demonstration of solidarity, diversity and democratic values, bringing together people from different backgrounds in a shared commitment to inclusion and respect.

The event will offer multiple distances, including routes for children, families, runners, walkers and participants using mobility aids, ensuring that people of different ages, abilities and fitness levels can take part. Participation is by voluntary donation, with proceeds supporting a Berlin-based platform for queer young people. By combining physical activity with public engagement, the event creates a visible, accessible space where participants can celebrate diversity, strengthen community connections and express support for human rights and equality. Through its broad, intersectional approach, the project demonstrates how sport can serve as a platform for civic participation and social cohesion.

Website: 
https://www.seitenwechsel-berlin.de/projekte/lauf-gegen-rechts

E-Mail: 
zusammen-laufen-gegen-rechts@seitenwechsel-berlin.de

Social media: 
Instagram: seitenwechsel_berlin
Facebook: Seitenwechsel e.V.

It’s a community-focused football that brings together LGBTQI+ people, migrants and allies through sport. The project recognises that many individuals still face barriers to participation due to discrimination, social exclusion or limited access to welcoming sporting environments. By organising a free, inclusive football event, MARS aims to provide a positive space where participants can connect, play and build relationships across communities.

The tournament will feature mixed and gender-inclusive teams, deliberately composed to encourage interaction, cooperation and mutual understanding rather than competition alone. Particular attention will be given to the participation and leadership of LGBTQI+ migrants, many of whom have already been involved in local and European initiatives that promote inclusion and youth engagement. Through football, the project seeks to strengthen social connections, challenge stereotypes and demonstrate the power of sport as a tool for community building and inclusion.

Website: 
[mars13.org]

Email: 
marseillerainbowsport@gmail.com

Social media: 
Facebook: marseillerainbowsport
Instagram: marseillerainbowsport