Funding for Non League & Grass Roots Club's

[Rhodes]

We could possibly use this thread for any future funding that might be available to SSML Club's however right now there is an emergency ₤20 million fund from Sport England offering grants to Non League and Grassroots Club's between ₤300 and ₤10,000 who are suffering hardship and currently struggling due to the situation we are all experiencing. From experience funding is not always easy to come by and like getting blood out of a stone, especially from Sport England, however let us see what this is like:

https://www.sportengland.org/how-we-can-help/our-funds/community-emergency-fund

Edited April 4, 2020 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

Here's more on the Sport England funding available, hopefully none of our SSML Club's are currently in serious difficulty:

https://www.sportengland.org/news/coronavirus-information-sector

[Savagebee]

1 hour ago, Rhodes said:

Here's more on the Sport England funding available, hopefully none of our SSML Club's are currently in serious difficulty:

https://www.sportengland.org/news/coronavirus-information-sector

I reckon some SSML clubs were already in a lot of financial trouble before this Covid-19 buisness even started.

Edited April 5, 2020 by Savagebee

[Rhodes]

Have any SSML Club's applied for the Sport England funding out of interest, I appreciate that it can often be far more trouble than it's worth applying for funds and having to jump through hoops before you even get a sniff of any money or otherwise getting knocked back because you don't meet the criteria. Here is something that Berks & Bucks FA affiliated Club's might be able to tap into:

https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/berks-bucks-fa?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=help-from-homeorigin=PAR

[Rhodes]

The Hertfordshire FA have helpfully issued a list of where there might be some funding available for Clubs who are in dire straits at the present time, this does not just apply to Club's in Hertfordshire:

Funding for Clubs

For those specifically concerned about the financial impact of the outbreak, we have also compiled details of the various different types of Funding for clubs affected by COVID 19.

[Rhodes]

Here is a fund available for future reference, it is currently on hold due to the crisis as presumably funds are being channeled elsewhere for the time being. For successful applicants it includes a £350 Nike kit and equipment voucher available for each new team being created within your Club although that is not in addition to the grant itself, there's always something in the small print isn't there:

https://footballfoundation.org.uk/grant/grow-the-game?utm_source=Social&utm_medium=Image&utm_campaign=Grow the Game 2020

In light of the coronavirus outbreak, we are pausing 'Grow the Game 2020' funding applications whilst we determine the needs of grassroots football across England. Please check back for further information which will be made available in due course. If you have already applied, we will be in touch with an update shortly.

[Rhodes]

Here we go folks, fill your boots. A new £9.56m fund, through the Football Foundation, has been made available to help Club's from Steps 1-7, and some other organisations, get their natural or artificial grass pitches ready for when the Government finally decides football should start again. Clubs can apply for up to £5,000:

https://footballfoundation.org.uk/grant/pitch-preparation-fund

[Rhodes]

Lincolnshire Community & Voluntary Service have a page with numerous sport related crisis funding opportunities that do not only apply to Lincolnshire, click on the link below:

 

Looking for funding support - LCVS will be circulating information on any funds that become available via email as we are made aware of them. (See funding updates section below) Updates will also be listed on our website:

Edited May 21, 2020 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

A very wide range of emergency grants and funding available albeit not that many sport related ones however if your Club or organisation is a registerred Charity then there will be more scope for you to apply:

https://www.charityexcellence.co.uk/Content/UserGuide/COVID19 Funder Toolkit 8_v3.pdf

https://www.leicestershirecommunities.org.uk/funding-covid-19.html

https://charitybank.org/news/covid-19-emergency-funding-for-charities-and-social-sector-organisations

Edited June 1, 2020 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

These funds are included in the third link above however SSML Club's from Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and London may be able to benefit as well as possibly Eynesbury Rovers:

• Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation     
  Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation has launched the Bedfordshire Coronavirus Emergency Fund, which is aimed at helping local community organisations to ‘deal with emerging issues in the community as a result of the continuing threat of Coronavirus’. The emergency fund is currently open, please check the Foundation's website for eligibility criteria.

• Cambridgeshire Community Foundation
  The Cambridgeshire Coronavirus Community Fund is open to constituted community organisations throughout Cambridgeshire (including Peterborough) that are supporting isolated older and vulnerable people. Grants will mostly be between £1,000 and £5,000, although larger grants will be considered for groups working in partnership. The community fund is currently open on a rolling call basis, please check the Foundation's website for eligibility criteria
• Hertfordshire Community Foundation
  Grants of up to £5,000 will be available to offer emergency funding for charities, community groups and other voluntary organisations. The focus is on supporting elderly and vulnerable people impacted by Coronavirus. The fund is accepting applications, please visit the Hertfordshire Community Foundation website for eligibility criteria
• Heart of Bucks Community Foundation
  The Bucks Coronavirus Response Appeal is aiming to support people and charities in Buckinghamshire who are most affected by COVID-19. The Coronavirus Response Fund is now accepting applications, with grants up to £5,000. For eligibility criteria visit the Heart of Bucks website.
• London Fund
  A £2m fund for London charities affected by Coronavirus is being set up by the Greater London Authority and City Bridge Trust. Grants will be available to organisations facing COVID-19 related challenges, such as increasing demand for services, higher staff absences, fewer volunteers and lower donations. The London Community Response Fund is operating two application waves, for more information please visit the funding website

[Rhodes]

Here we go folks, fill your boots, a further £2m plus in funding has been made available as from next Monday (29 June) until 19 July, through Sport England, to help Club's from Steps 1-7, and some other organisations, get their stadiums and club houses ready for when the Government finally decides non league football should start again. Clubs can apply for up to £500 to help make their facilities safer and cleaner for things such as clear signage and floor markings to maintain social distancing, promoting cleanliness and good hygiene, repairs and modifications, hand basins with hot water and paper towel/hand sanitiser dispensers and waste bins: 

https://footballfoundation.org.uk/grant/club-preparation-fund

[Rhodes]

An article from the Non League Paper on-line confirming that the £2 million in fresh 'Club Preparation Funding' is available to Non League Club's as of yesterday (29 June) and how to apply up until an including Sunday 19 July. Fill your boots:

https://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/latest-news/fa-competitions-more-news/30948/club-preparation-fund-opens-with-more-than-2-million-to-give-away/

[Rhodes]

Ollie Bayliss tipped listeners off this afternoon on his BBC Three Counties Non League Show that 'Matchday Support Funding' is available to Club's, fill your boots:

https://www.kentfa.com/news/2020/sep/03/applications-open-for-the-matchday-support-fund

https://footballfoundation.org.uk/grant/matchday-support-fund

The application window is open between 2 September and 16 September 2020. Please visit the Football Foundation website for further details on the Matchday Support Fund and how to apply. 

[Rhodes]

Clearly future funding from various sources will continue to be impacted in the dire current climate so continue to watch this space for any possible opportunities, I know that a number of SSML Club's have 'filled their boots' during recent 'Pitch Preparation Fund, 'Club Preparation Fund' and 'Matchday Support Fund' windows of opportunity. I see that, unfortunately, some sources of funding have been cut or at least put on ice for the time being and this includes Futsal funding which hopefully won't effect any SSML Cub's, at least it will still be possible for Coaches to access learning opportunities to support their understanding of Futsal and enable them to progress into UEFA Futsal courses which they can add to their CV's and is part and parcel of the UEFA 'B' and UEFA 'A' license process:

https://www.thefa.com/news/2020/sep/24/statement-futsal-240920

As a result of the unavoidable budget cuts associated with COVID-19, we can announce that funding will no longer be provided for elite England Futsal teams and will significantly reduce for grassroots Futsal from this season onwards.

COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the FA and as an organisation we are currently planning for potential losses of approximately £300m. We have to prioritise our core functions that regulate and serve English football and also have a duty to support our men’s and women’s senior teams in their efforts to win major tournaments. This has led to difficult financial choices, but ultimately has forced us to focus more than ever on our key priorities.

Despite this decision, we recognise that Futsal still provides important alternative opportunities for youth and adults to participate through the National Futsal Series, National Futsal League, BUCS, AoC and local Futsal leagues.

Futsal also continues to be a game for developing football players and improving young players' footballing abilities. As part of this, the FA Pokémon Youth Cup will continue to be an opportunity for us to help younger players develop their football skills.

Additionally, grassroots coaches will still be able to access learning opportunities to support their understanding of Futsal and enable them to progress into UEFA Futsal courses if they choose.

The FA and its relevant committee are currently reviewing the current ‘Fast Forward with Futsal’ strategy, along with the future governance model in light of the significant reduction in funding.

We also recognise the England Futsal team may progress further in Futsal EURO 2022 and we will provide a further update on this in due course, if required.

Edited September 24, 2020 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

If any Club's are registerred as a Charity organisation, a Community group or organise an on site food bank it is a lot easier to raise funds during the current crisis however you can normally find a way of adapting your application to meet the criteria, see links below:

What funding is available to charities during the Covid-19 pandemic (civilsociety.co.uk)

Funding and Fundraising (COVID19) | NICVA

[Rhodes]

I don't know whether any Club's use 'Easyfundraising' to get funds, it is made out to sound like 'easy money', and you just watch it roll in to Club coffers, but I don't believe it is that simple:

Collect free donations towards your fundraising target when supporters, players & staff use Easyfundraising to shop with 4000+ leading retailers, it’s an easy & safe way to raise money in 2021. Find out more: 

Fundraising made easy in 2021 - Bedfordshire FA

Fundraising | Charity Fundraising Online | Easyfundraising

Edited January 13, 2021 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

For all the SSML Club's who competed in this season's FA Vase there is an opportunity to win £25,000 worth of building materials from Buildbase, apply by Sunday 28 March: 

Buildbase Renovation Application

 

Edited January 13, 2021 by Rhodes

[Rhodes]

A lengthy and very helpful document from the Football Supporters Association (FSA) that summarises a lot of financial support/assistance and schemes that are currently available to Club's at various levels of the game:

FSA-Covid-19-Business-Guidance-Note-V5.pdf (thefsa.org.uk)

[Rhodes]

Just to re-iterate from another thread that, as from tomorrow (28 January), £10,500 in funding is available for each SSML Premier Division Club and £7,500 for each SSML Division One Club through the 'Football Stadia Improvement Fund', here is the criteria and a link to the application process:

FWSP | Football Foundation

Government confirms £10 million emergency support for steps 3-6 of the National League system - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

[Rhodes]

I assume that all SSML Premier Division and Division One Club's are currently in the process of applying for their grants if they have not done so already, £10,500 and £7,500 is not to be sniffed at although it is not going to keep the wolf from the door for very long. I have however just read 'the small print' of the criteria and it is not guaranteed that a Club will automatically receive those amounts is it, some may receive far less once their financial position has been assessed by the Football Stadia Improvement Fund (FSIF). Also it states that Club's who hold over six months of unrestricted operating reserves are not eligible for a grant, I assume that hopefully none of 'our' Club's do and further more the money has to be used by 31 March 2021, why is that particularly if, as fully expected, Covid is ongoing then.