Grants of £500 are available for groups wishing to start offering football, those keen to expand their existing provision to new audiences or those already delivering football to under-represented young people. 

Sported, a charity supporting grassroots sports groups, partnered with Barclays to deliver a community fund, providing grants to groups making football more accessible at the grassroots level. 

The aim of the partnership is to encourage participation in football at every level. 

Alongside the grants, the programme will be offering training and support resources to help reduce inequalities in the participation of football. 

The programme’s engagement will focus on including girls and young people from lower socio-economic and under-represented groups: including racially diverse communities, young people with disabilities, and young people from the LGBTQ+ community. 

The programme will offer community groups the opportunity to access a £500 grant to be spent on whatever they need to deliver their football activities to young people from diverse backgrounds. 

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion training to help increase group leaders’ confidence in engaging new and under-represented audiences will also be on offer. The training covers key topics in sport including engaging teenage girls, engaging with diverse communities, disability awareness, LGBTQ+ awareness and tackling racism. 

Groups will also receive a set of branded football bibs for their participants, offers to access Premier League and Barclays Women’s Super League tickets and the opportunity to nominate young role models from their group, as well as the amazing coaches and volunteers who make it all happen.

Yunus Patel, Club Secretary at Crompton FC Academy in Bolton, was awarded a grant when the funding window was open last year, and the money helped their open age reserves side win their league this season.

“The funding we received was used towards the cost of running the team so that young adults from under privileged communities can take part, express their skills, make friends and communicate with people of different backgrounds,” Patel said.

While Mill Hill St Peters used the £500 grant they were awarded to improve their facilities.

“It has been great to get some new barriers in place as the existing ones have been in place for over 40 years. The new barriers look really good and make the facility look a lot more professional,” Chairman Darren Walsh said.

“We look forward to welcoming lots of children and adults in the coming weeks to enjoy the facility as we have lots of league finals scheduled in. We are very grateful for the funding we have had.”

Applications are welcome from all types of organisations including football clubs, community groups, youth groups and charities.  

To be eligible, groups must meet the criteria of which you can find out more below, along with the application process: 

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