Our Funding

Funds are available for a wide range of projects: work with disadvantaged and minority groups, new football activity such as women and girls teams, keep fit or activity classes, work health-related areas such as obesity or anti-smoking initiatives, support for youth groups or the elderly.

For some ideas of successful projects please look at our case studies

Applications can be made by a community charitable trust or community interest company, associated with a National League club.   We refer to the organisation running a community programme as a Club Community Organisation (CCO).   To be eligible for funding the main club must be a member of the National League during the season of application.  CCO representatives must also have attended one of the Trust’s funding workshops or received pre-application advice.

Grant amounts vary depending on the type of organisation applying.  Please contact us for more information.

CCOs can either apply once a year or ask for all of the ceiling towards one project or programme, or a number of times during the season (as long as the total of all grants is within the grant ceiling). 

The smallest grant that can be applied for is £5,000.

Applicants need to show where the rest of the money is going to come from, but it does not have to be in place at the time of application. Matching funds may come from any source:  sponsorship, other grant aid, income, and club reserves.

IN 2022/23 THERE WILL BE THREE FUNDING ROUNDS. THE DATES ARE:

• 12 August application deadline, with decisions by early September. Projects to start from 1 October
• 5 December application deadline, decisions January 2023. Projects to start from 1 February
• 3 April 2023 application deadline, decisions early May. Projects to start from mid-May

These deadlines are designed so that applications can be made in time to run projects at key points in the year, such as school holidays or for the start of a season.  All applications are considered by the Trustees.  We aim to take decisions on applications and let applicants know the outcome within six weeks of each deadline.

Applications can be for a new project, or an existing one where our funds will enhance or increase activity already taking place.  The project can last for a short time or for a whole year.  However, the application must be approved before the project starts. 

HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF WHAT OUR GRANT CAN COVER:

  • Sessional workers (such as qualified coaches, teachers, support workers)
  • Equipment – either hire or purchase
  • IT equipment (not to be used for Club administration)
  • Other materials for use in your project
  • Publicity materials – such as leaflets, posters and websites
  • Training and qualification costs – such as coach or referee qualifications
  • DBS costs
  • Transport costs – subject to certain criteria
  • Venue and pitch hire
  • Volunteer expenses for travel and food
  • VAT that you cannot recover.

AND WE DON’T FUND:

  • New activities that start before we confirm our grant (unless you have been given permission to start)
  • Costs incurred in submitting your application – such as a consultant’s fees
  • Day-to-day running costs (for example, utility bills, council tax, rent and insurance)
  • Contingency costs
  • Match tickets for the Club’s games
  • Fundraising activities for your Club or other organisations
  • Items that mainly benefit individuals (for example, equipment that is not shared)
  • Land, building, refurbishment, pitch or property projects
  • Loans or interest payments
  • Ongoing staff costs (including salaries of permanent staff)
  • Political or religious activities
  • Projects that you cannot maintain because of high ongoing costs or the need for specialist skills
  • Purchase of alcohol
  • Routine repairs and maintenance
  • Any costs associated with vehicles other than transport hire
  • VAT that you can recover.

FUNDING IS NOT AVAILABLE TO GO TOWARDS:

  • The full-time salaries of existing club staff
  • Club running costs
  • Existing elite youth development programmes