Barclays Community Football Fund

Sported is delighted to partner with Barclays on the Barclays Community Football Fund, offering small grants, training, kit, and exclusive ticketing offers to hundreds of clubs across the UK to make football more accessible in our communities. 

After a successful launch last year, the 2023 programme is now open – providing grants and exclusive offers for groups delivering football activities to the most under-represented groups.

Through the Barclays Community Football Fund, Sported is creating opportunities for all young people through access to football – supporting the growth in participation at every level. 

The programme provides access grants of £500 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. 

This includes girls, young people from racially diverse communities, young people with disabilities, young people from the LGBTQ+ community and those from lower socio-economic groups.

Alongside the access grants, we have additional pots of funding and support resources for groups doing deeper impact work with under-represented young people.

Together, we will reduce the inequalities in participation and help all young people to benefit from taking part in football in their community.

Who can apply

This fund is for new groups who have not already received a grant from the Barclays Community Football Fund. Groups who have already received funding should look at the other opportunities available for existing grantees.

We welcome applications from not-for-profit organisations including community groups, youth groups and traditional football clubs. Groups must meet the following criteria:

You deliver football activities to young people under the age of twenty-five, or you are wanting to start.

You already include an offering for girls, or you are wanting to start delivering girls’ football.

You have the aspiration and capacity to grow your membership of young people from underrepresented groups.

You are keen to learn more about how your organisation can engage with new, underrepresented audiences.

Restrictions

Due to the work Barclays do with their Girls School Football Partnership, schools groups will be unable to apply for this fund. Other educational institutions are also not eligible to apply for the fund.

Eligible expenditure

The funding can be used for anything that will support your delivery of football activities to underrepresented groups. Typical examples of costs might include a contribution towards:

  • Venue hire including floodlights / heating

  • Coaching costs

  • Volunteer expenses

  • Equipment

  • Kit

  • Marketing and communications

  • Training and qualifications

  • Insurances and affiliation 

How to apply

Apply online at https://thehub.sported.org.uk/barclays-community-football-fund/apply-now.html 

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