Department for Culture Media and Sport
football foundation funding
The Football Foundation is the UK’s largest sports charity; a unique partnership funded by The F.A. Premier League, The FA and the Government.
It provides funding for grass roots football provision, from football kits to changing rooms and can make grants from £100 to £1 million to “improve facilities, create opportunities and build communities”.
The Foundation is working towards:
- Installing modern facilities in parks, local leagues and schools
- Providing capital and revenue support to increase participation in grass roots football
- Strengthening the links between football and the community, harnessing its potential as a force for good
How do people apply for funding?
There are a number of different funding schemes:
Capital Projects Scheme
This scheme can help with renovating or building new changing rooms, pitches and clubhouses and other capital projects. It’s based on matched funding – so you usually need to raise half the cost of whatever you are applying for.
There is linked funding for staff wages in this scheme but they must be linked to a capital project.
Goalpost Safety Scheme
This funding is for the replacement of unsafe goalposts, which fail to meet the British Standards safety requirements. Funding is available to cover half the costs of a pair of goals, up to maximum £1,500.
Community and Education Scheme
Funding can provide a maximum of £250,000 over five years for projects that will increase participation and volunteering in sport.
Priority areas are disability projects, ethnic minority communities, young people, social inclusion and education.
They can fund 90 percent of project costs, but applicants are expected to find as much partnership funding as possible.
Community and Education Small Grants Scheme
Funding for projects which introduce a new activity, increase participation and provide training for volunteers to support grassroots football. It will provide up to £9,000 for projects costing £10,000 or less.
Junior Kit Scheme
This scheme provides a voucher, value up to £400, for teams of children or young people aged under 18 years or teams of adults with disabilities. It is specifically for the purchase of soccer kit and/or equipment.
Football Stadium Improvement Fund
This provides grants to clubs in the Football League and the National League down to step 7 and below who want to improve their facilities.
Find out how to apply for any of these schemes on the Football Foundation website.
Barclays Spaces for Sports Scheme
This is a partnership between Barclays, Groundwork and the Football Foundation, providing £30 million over three years to create or improve sports facilities in communities across the UK.
This scheme does not accept applications for funding but they are making available 1.200 free coaching kit and equipment packs. These will be awarded each month to teams and groups in areas most in need across the country.
This is available to all sports organisations, not just football.
More information is available on the Barclays "Spaces for sport" website
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