Premier League and The FA Facilities Fund — Football Foundation

THE Premier League and The FA Facilities Fund is focused on supporting the development of new or refurbished local football facilities, and replaces the previous Facilities Scheme, Build the Game and the Premier League Community Facility Fund.

The Fund was officially announced in October 2013 by Minister for Sport and Equalities, Helen Grant MP, Premier League Chief Executive, Richard Scudamore, The FA’s General Secretary, Alex Horne and Football Foundation Chief Executive, Paul Thorogood.

The types of facilities that will be built or refurbished are changing pavilions and playing surfaces for community benefit, with money provided by the Premier League, The FA and the Government (via Sport England) and delivered by the Foundation.

The Fund is available to football clubs, schools, councils and local sports associations and gives grants for projects that:

— Improve facilities for football and other sport in local communities.

— Sustain or increase participation amongst children and adults, regardless of background age, or ability.

— Help children and adults to develop their physical, mental, social and moral capacities through regular participation in sport.

Grants are available for between £10,000 and £500,000.

Applicants must demonstrate a financial need for grant aid and contribute all of their available money to the project. The Premier League and The FA Facilities Fund also expect financial contributions from other funding organisations.

Applicants must be able to demonstrate that all available options for match funding have been exhausted and to be able to provide evidence for this. As a guide, projects would normally be expected to secure 50% match funding although each project will be assessed based on individual circumstances.

For more information on the scheme as well as how to apply, visit: www.footballfoundation.org.uk/funding-schemes/premier-league-the-fa-facilities-fund/

On the website, there is a link to ‘pre-application advice’ which is where each new project would need to start its journey to find out if it’s eligible for any help.