Due to an overwhelming and increasing demand for grants from the Football Foundation’s Facilities schemes, the value of the grant applications already in the system now far exceeds the available budget.
To best manage this situation, any applications already received but not yet approved, including those that are being supported by The FA in the pre-application stage, will be subject to rigorous scrutiny to see if further cost savings can be made by rescoping the project or, indeed, if revisiting the proposed time scales for its delivery is a viable option.
Specifically, close attention will be paid to the potential partnership funding each project has attracted. Applications requiring a very high percentage level of support will only be supported in truly exceptional circumstances.
To make the best possible use of available funds, a new scheme - called Build the Game - has been launched. Applicants are able to apply for more modest grant support of under £20,000 to upgrade facilities that will deliver genuine football development outcomes.
The Football Foundation will continue to accept new Expressions of Interest (EOI) and these will be managed under the current process in partnership with The FA and County Football Associations taking into consideration their individual merits, when compared to the existing applications in the system. However applicants should take into account the advice offered before commissioning any monies towards developing a project.
For further information on any of these issues, please contact the Foundation’s Facilities Programme Manager or the FA’s Regional Facilities Manager for your region:
