The Football Foundation is the Government’s Charity, funding grassroots sports clubs
The Government, under Andy Burnham’s premiership, have pledged to offer more support for grassroots sports clubs. And the best way for sports clubs to tap into that funding is through the Government’s charity, The Football Foundation.
Proud Everton FC fan and keen rugby advocate, Prime Minister Andy Burham announced a commitment to improve and grow grassroots sports facilities. The £400 million promise runs up to 2030, and includes a previously promised £85million allocation for community hubs by the prior Labour government.
The Football Foundation is the best way to try to access government funding. Not just for football, The Football Foundation provides grants for multi-sport venues, aiming to transform grassroots facilities. Any not-for-profit club or voluntary group that provides sport alongside grassroots football is eligible to apply for a multi-sports grant. Professional community organisations, county FAs and educational establishments are also eligible for facilities funding.
Upto £25,000 worth of funding available per application, and can be on a range of facility improvements; including catering units, goalposts, portable floodlights, fencing or pitch maintenance… and much more.
To apply for grants under £25,000 – clubs can submit an instant application
Grants over £25,000 are available – but may be funded over multiple years, and will rwquire additional check and invoices. Create a Football Foundations account to get started.
What can the Football Foundation’s multi-sport grant be used to fund:
- Equipment to set up a Women’s football team
- Catering units
- Goalposts
- Storage containers
- Floodlights
- Improvements to changing pavilions and clubhouses
- Installing 3G pitches
- Pitch maintenance machinery and equipment
- Fencing
- Creating new grass pitches and improvements
- Drainage
- PlayZones and Hubs, which are sets of pitches and often include a café, changing room and car park.
What is the Football Foundations’ Grassroots Multi-sport Grant not to be used for:
The grant is only permitted for projects which have not yet started, and solely with the aim of improving facilities. The following areas will not be permitted to be funded by the Football Foundations’ multi-sport grant:
- Private facilities
- Kit and equipment
- Projects outside of England
- Retrospective funding
- Any maintenance or repair works which don’t improve the pitch or facilities.
- Facility hire costs
Why should sports clubs apply for funding?
Funding is how sports clubs can take advantage of the government’s ambition to help grassroots projects. Grants will help cover essential operating costs, upgrade facilities and expand participation. By reducing the pressure of crowdfunding or taking a loan, not-for-profit sport clubs and organisations are able
With the start of the footballing season kicking off, and cold winter months right around the corner, many sports clubs will be considering how they can best prepare their club for next year. Specialist machinery and grounds equipment is essential for maintaining the quality of your pitches and courts.
The sports club grant from the Football Foundation will depend on what equipment or facility you include in your submission. For example, for machinery, the Football Foundation award a maximum of £50,000, but will not exceed 75% of a new project’s total costs. Only the Chair, Secretary or Treasurer of that Club can submit an application form. Only one application can be sent per organisation.
Sports clubs should apply for funding because of the potential impact on the community and the headstart an injection of money can give clubs. The Football Foundation illustrates the example of Saffron Dynamo FC, a small club based in Leicester. They received a massive £189,000 grant to support the construction of new changing rooms. The club was like many – popular, growing, but limited by their facilities – and they wanted to improve their matchday performance and be able to attract more visitors.
The investment and new changing pavilion made an incredible impact. Saffron Dynamo FC now hosts 19 teams and has grown into a multi-sports venue. They’ve added rugby, pool, darts and community clubs. Their ambitions empowered with the investment, have propelled rapid growth and sustainability.
How to apply for sport club funding through the Football Foundation?
The application documents and details can be found here.
Small scale projects such as goalposts, large scale projects such as changing room updates, and major projects such as pavilion designs each require their specific application.
At Club Insure, we recommend all multi-sport clubs check out the Football Foundation’s Community Engagement Toolkit which provides guidance around accessibility, equality and discovering opportunities.