Danone opens GetPRO Professional grants for UK grassroots sports
Applications are open for the latest funding round of GetPRO Professional, an initiative from Danone North Europe. The grants are intended for early-career sports nutritionists working on nutrition projects at grassroots sports clubs across the UK.
Each successful applicant can receive as much as £2,000, equivalent to €2,338. The programme is delivered in partnership with The Nutrition Society and is designed to give practitioners practical experience while extending access to evidence-based nutrition advice for community athletes.
Research commissioned by GetPRO Professional found that 77% of people involved in grassroots sport do not receive advice from a qualified sports nutritionist. A further 86% said that dedicated nutrition support was not widely available. The survey also found that 85% saw a substantial difference between the nutrition knowledge and support offered in elite and amateur sport; 37% called that difference “very significant”.
Cost and availability were cited as barriers. Some 59% of respondents said financial constraints kept athletes from using a sports nutritionist, while 38% pointed to a shortage of qualified practitioners in their area. Almost a quarter, or 24%, said they currently used social media for sports nutrition information. At the same time, 28% said contradictory online guidance made it more difficult to identify reliable advice.
The research also examined knowledge of nutrition. More than half of respondents, 51%, were unsure about the recommended daily protein intake, although 85% recognised protein as important for effective muscle development. Among people without access to a sports nutritionist, 62% said that dedicated support would significantly improve their own or their child’s sporting experience.
GetPRO Professional also provides educational materials, content led by experts and professional-development opportunities for sports nutritionists. Robert Browne, Danone North Europe’s senior science communications manager, said the company believed evidence-based nutrition should be available to people participating in community sport as well as those competing at elite level.
“Our research highlights that access to expert nutrition support remains a challenge for many grassroots athletes,” Mr Browne said. He added that the partnership with The Nutrition Society was intended to support the next generation of practitioners and make trusted advice more accessible to clubs and communities across the UK.
Applications close on 30 September 2026. The initiative forms part of Danone’s broader work to expand access to expert sports nutrition and support healthier, more active communities.
