Guidance and advice
All applicants are advised to seek pre application advice from your County FA. For further information please contact Chris Smith (Chris.Smith@durhamfa.com)
Small Grants Scheme
Aim of the scheme
The scheme aims to increase participation by both players and volunteers in grass roots football by supporting the cost associated with providing new activity
Grant ceiling
Funding of up to £9,000 is available for projects costing up to £10,000. Percentage support varies, but will not exceed 90% of the total project cost.
Who can apply?
Applications are welcomed from community groups, youth clubs, football clubs and education establishments. The Foundation also seeks to encourage applications from groups whose income is less than £15,000 per annum.
Who cannot apply?
Individuals and profit making organisations cannot apply.
What we look for
Applicants should...
comply with the aim of the scheme, clearly stating what the objectives are and how they are going to achieve them
ensure that all costs within the application relate to new activity
set out the details of activity already provided and what new activity will be delivered if funding is secured outline how many individuals the group currently engage (of which age and gender) and how many new participants (of which age and gender) they aim to attract identify partnership funding provide all appropriate supporting documentation demonstrate partnership working. This is encouraged so that projects do not work in isolation but link to other initiatives where appropriate demonstrate how the project will continue after Foundation funding ceases
We encourage
projects conducted over a three year period
projects aimed at engaging traditionally excluded groups, such as black and minority ethnic communities, women and girls and disabled groups the introduction of new lunchtime/after school clubs which lead to inter school competition the introduction of new age groups to a Club level One/Level Two coaching courses delivered as part of a wider programme which support the introduction of new teams/delivery of new activity
projects that work towards integrating new players into a league/competition
We fund
training courses
For example, each new team, or group of players, could aim to get two people qualified as coaches. It is also advisable to recruit volunteers to undertake refereeing courses.
hire of FA qualified coaches
For each new team whilst volunteers are undertaking coaching qualifications, it may be necessary for the club / group to hire an external coach (your County Football Association can help identify potential coaches and provide details of relevant costs). Once volunteers complete their courses it is anticipated that the cost of coach hire will reduce in each year as volunteers will be qualified to undertake coaching duties.
hire of qualified/affiliated referees
If you wish to enter your teams into leagues you will be required to provide referees. Until volunteers are qualified, it is often necessary for groups to request funding to pay for referees. Please talk to your league about their requirements in this area.
facility hire
You can include facility hire for both training and matches.
affiliation
You can include both league and County Football Association affiliation for new teams established through this project.
publicity and promotion
This can be in the form of getting leaflets printed, advertising in local press and printing posters.
recruitment events
The Foundation is able to fund events that lead to regular activity. For example, you could hold a taster day and provide people with free coaching sessions, or you could run a small tournament to introduce new participants to your group. If part of your grant is to be used for organised events, the Foundation’s contribution can only be used for facility, coach and referee hire and not insurance, refreshments, equipment, trophies, certificates or similar.
first aid kits
We would look to fund one first aid for each new team established through this project.
travel expenses
The Foundation can offer a contribution to essential travel costs for players and volunteers.
ALL COSTS MUST RELATE TO NEW ACTIVITY
We do not fund
groups which have received Foundation funding in the last 3 years (with the exception of Junior Kit Scheme, Goalpost Safety Scheme and Capital projects under £20,000)
projects with a total cost exceeding £10,000
retrospective or existing work curriculum time activity other than for Special Education Needs (SEN) groups
projects based solely on coach education
education resources – i.e videos/workshops/exhibitions
permanent employment of Officers (posts)
purchase of/contribution to mini buses
capital improvements (including goal posts)
IT equipment
applications which have the sole aim of achieving FA Charter Standard
travel costs to watch matches
projects based on performance and excellence
insurance, registration, consultant fees or administration costs
mixed football aged 11+
end of season presentations, trophies etc
annual or one-off events that do not lead to regular activity
overseas travel and expenses
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Goalpost Safety Scheme
Aim of Scheme
We aim to replace goals which fail to meet the British Standards safety requirements. We will also provide funding for new goals to ensure that all goals purchased for grassroots football meet British Standards EN 748 and 8462. They must also meet the standards in parts 1 and 2 of the Football Association’s (FA) guidance notes.
Goals we are targeting for replacement:
• Goals made before 1996 (before British Standards were produced)
• Goals with metal cup hooks on posts and crossbars (which will be considered illegal from 07/08 football season)
• Wooden goalposts
• Freestanding goalposts
• Mini-soccer goals which have parts missing
• Rusted goalposts
As of 16 July 2007 applicants to the scheme will now be able to apply for:
• new goals as well as replacement goals
• up to £3,000 grant aid
• an extended range of goals (please see the list below and flyers included in this pack)
The funding level for the scheme remains at 50%.
The application form should be completed, but now on page 7 when asked to specify which goals you want to purchase you may choose from the following 13 goals:
Full size - 24ft x 8ft (7.3m x 2.4m)
1) Socketed aluminium
2) Socketed steel
3) Quick release aluminium
4) Free standing aluminium with integral weighted back bar
Youth - 21ft x 7ft (6.4m x 2.1m)
5) Socketed aluminium
6) Socketed steel
Mini-soccer - 12ft x 6ft (3.7m x 1.8m)
7) Socketed aluminium
8) Freestanding aluminium with weights
9) Freestanding aluminium with integral weighted back bar
10) UPVC
Futsal posts - (3m x 2m)
11) Freestanding aluminium
9v9 - 16ft x 7ft (4.88m x 2.13m)
12) UPVC with appropriate ground anchors (comes with carry bag)
13) Freestanding aluminium (with counter balance weights)
If you want to choose one of the goals above which is not currently listed on page 7 please use the notes page of the application form (page 9) to tell us what you want, and the price of the goals from the supplier you have chosen. Please note prices include delivery, nets and, where appropriate, weights and bags.
Please click here to see Suitable Suppliers
We will not replace full-sized freestanding training goals.
Grant ceiling
An individual grant cannot exceed 50% of the cost of a pair of goals up to a ceiling of £3,000. An applicant (such as a local authority) may apply for up to a maximum of 10 grants.
Eligibility criteria
Who can apply?
Applications are welcome from FA affiliated clubs, local authorities, schools (that demonstrate commitment to football and FA Charter Standard), local community groups and clubs in the National League System Step 7 and below. Clubs in Steps 3 - 6 of the National League System can apply for replacement goals for their U18 youth teams. This applies where the under-18s team does not use the same pitch as the Club’s first team.
Who cannot apply?
Professional clubs including their Academies and Centres of Excellence; clubs that do not have an open membership policy, clubs in the National League System Steps 1 and 2 and commercial operators are all ineligible to apply.
The Foundation does not fund retrospectively and will not consider applications for goals which are ordered or purchased before an offer of grant aid has been made.
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Junior Kit Scheme
Aim of scheme
To support Under 18 teams and adults with disabilities by offering free kit and/or equipment up to the value of £400. The voucher can be exchanged with our nominated supplier - Nike. Schools may only receive one grant every three years. Clubs may apply for two vouchers every three years, as long as one application is for a girls’ team, and the other is for a boys’ team.
Eligibility criteria
Who can apply?
Any club, school or organisation can apply for a kit grant including all representative teams at a junior level up to and including District. Applications are also welcome from disabled groups of all ages.
To be eligible for funding groups must:
be within the qualifying age group: Under 7s – Under 18s (with the exception of adults with disabilities)
not have previously received a kit grant from either the Football Foundation’s Junior Kit Scheme or the recent Barclaycard Free Kicks Scheme within a three-year period. This is with the exception of clubs, as long as one application is for a girls’ team and the other one is for a boys’ team. A separately affiliated section within a club, which has its own officials and structure, would be considered independently. Please note, schools may not apply for a second kit within a three-year period.
either have achieved FA Charter Standard, or agrees to work towards this standard within a period of 12 months. For further advice please contact your local County FA.
include a copy of their Child Protection Policy
have a minimum of ten registered members
teams should not be of mixed gender for age groups 11yrs and over, in accordance with FA ruling
What we look for
A Junior Kit Scheme application is judged purely on whether the group meet the necessary criteria and demonstrates the appropriate need for a kit. If they do, they are offered a grant, if not, the application is rejected.
Please not from 1 October 2006, we will only accept new Junior Kit Scheme forms. Old forms will no longer be processed.