💛 When Funding Fails, Fans Fund: #DoYourBit Movement Unites Communities to Save Grassroots Sport
Hundreds of local leisure centres, swimming pools, and gyms across the UK are at risk of closure as the facilities that keep communities active face mounting financial pressures.
In response, a new campaign led by Bee Ethical - #DoYourBit - is helping communities take action to safeguard grassroots sport from the ground up.
The campaign launched with the Oundle Town FC lottery, encouraging supporters to sign up, share, and recruit others, framing each act as “doing their bit” to protect the club they love.
Within just eight days of launch, Oundle’s lottery achieved over 23% of its target of 463 regular supporters and secured a £2,000 bonus win towards its new clubhouse.
The club now has a sustainable income stream that directly supports facilities for players and the wider Oundle community.
The #DoYourBit campaign was born out of growing concern about the future of community sports infrastructure.
On 2 August 2025, sector leaders including ukactive and the Local Government Association urged the government to ensure its £400 million grassroots sports pledge reaches the facilities people rely on - from local gyms to swimming pools.
While the debate over funding continues, #DoYourBit shows that communities don’t have to wait to make a difference.
“Public funding is vital, but it won’t solve the crisis alone,” said Aaron Mildren, Founder of Bee Ethical.
“BeeSMART lotteries give every supporter the power to make a real, lasting difference. #DoYourBit is about uniting communities to protect the clubs and facilities they love, one ticket at a time.”
The Oundle FC pilot is just the beginning. Following its success, Oundle Rugby Club will soon launch its own lottery, further demonstrating how supporter-led fundraising can provide a lifeline for local sport.
🐝 A Sustainable Funding Model for the Future
The #DoYourBit movement is powered by BeeSMART, Bee Ethical’s supporter-led lottery platform designed specifically for grassroots clubs and charities.
With a simple £10 per month model, the platform handles compliance, payments, and supporter care - removing the admin burden for clubs while guaranteeing that all proceeds go directly back into local facilities.
Already, more than 200 sports clubs nationwide have joined BeeSMART, generating over £83,700 in just five months to reinvest directly into their clubs and communities.
Success stories like Ramsey Cricket Club - which has raised over £200,000 through the lottery that inspired Bee Ethical - show how even small clubs can secure long-term financial stability.
With more than £52 million raised for good causes to date and over 430 charitable organisations supported, Bee Ethical continues to prove the power of sustainable, community-led fundraising.
💛 About Bee Ethical
Bee Ethical helps charities, sports clubs, and community groups build long-term, sustainable income through supporter lotteries.
Its BeeSMART platform, powered by ComBee - the engine behind some of the UK’s largest charity lotteries - enables not-for-profits to raise funds with no upfront costs, no risk, and minimal admin.
For more information about Bee Ethical or to start your own community lottery, visit www.bee-ethical.com.