GROWING GRASSROOTS IS BACK!!

LONDON FA TO INVEST IN GRASSROOTS MALE FOOTBALL TEAMS ACROSS THE CAPITAL

After the success of the London Football Association’s Growing Grassroots programme last year, applications have re-opened for the 2019/20 season. This year London FA is investing in male grassroots football teams in the capital, to help stem the recent decline of aged 17+ males playing affiliated football.

Clubs can now apply for two funding opportunities to assist them in developing new teams and ensuring existing teams in clubs are sustainable and future-proof.

Growing Grassroots offers £500 to any club setting up a new team, whilst Sustaining Grassroots offers £500 to any Club that needs funding support for their current teams.

Growing Grassroots Fund

Setting up a new team or club can have its challenges; for many people there are financial barriers, with up front or ongoing costs needed throughout the season.

Growing football is part of the London FA’s mission, so to overcome these financial barriers, it’s introducing the Growing Grassroots Fund, aimed at helping new teams get off the ground with a cash injection to support activity in their first season.

To be eligible, the team applying must be brand new, affiliated to the London FA and must be, or commit to be, Charter Standard by 31 December 2019. Clubs can apply for up to £500 worth of funding new per team which, if successful, will be supplied in two parts – 50% to be paid by 9th September 2019 and 50% to be paid by 7th February 2020, if all requirements have been met.

There is only a limited amount of funding on offer to clubs as grants and as such, the London FA will prioritise investment that will have the biggest impact on football in the capital. This will be based on teams most in need of financial support, teams that can demonstrate clear consideration has been given to being sustainable for future seasons and teams that are part of Charter Standard Clubs (or commit to becoming Charter Standard as part of the funding process).

Sustaining Grassroots Fund

Running affiliated football teams is a big undertaking and sometimes financing a club for a new season can be difficult.

To ensure clubs can continue to operate, the London FA has introduced its Sustaining Grassroots Fund, aimed at supporting clubs that need a helping hand. The grant will provide a cash injection to clubs ahead of 2019/20, with the aim that over the season, the club will be able to develop a sustainable model for their finances, allowing the LFA to support different team’s year on year and keep clubs going.

To be eligible, teams must already be in existence, have been affiliated with the London FA in the 2018/19 season and must be Charter Standard (or commit to becoming Charter Standard as part of the funding process).

Clubs can apply for up to £500 worth of funding new per team which, if successful, will be supplied in two parts – 50% to be paid by 9th September 2019 and 50% to be paid by 7th February 2020, if all requirements have been met. Priority will be given to clubs that can best demonstrate how this funding will be used to help them towards long-term sustainability.

Grassroots funding offers a fantastic opportunity to provide competitive football for new players, and will support existing teams to continue to competing across the capital.

 
Applications  Now Closed

Criteria

For the 2019 application window your team must be:

• Male
• New or Existing Team or Club
• U18, U19, U21, U23, or Open Age

Your organisation must have:

• Evidence of a Club bank account and Income/Expenditure records
• Safeguarding Policy for Clubs with youth teams

 Who is Eligible?

• Football Clubs
• University and College teams playing in FA affiliated community leagues

Who is Not Eligible?

• Individuals
• University teams playing in BUCS, Intramural, or non-FA affiliated leagues
• College Teams playing in AOC, Intramural, or non-FA affiliated leagues