Sported have partnered with Barclays to launch the new Barclays Community Football Fund, offering small grants, training, kit and exclusive ticketing offers to make football more accessible in communities across the UK.
Barclays believe in creating opportunities for all through access to football. Through the Barclays Community Football Fund, we want to grow participation in football at every level.
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. Alongside the grants, the programme will be offering training and support resources to groups to help reduce inequalities in the participation of football.
The programme will focus on including girls and young people from lower socio-economic and under-represented groups: including racially diverse communities, people with disabilities, and people from the LGBTQ+ community.
We are excited to offer Sported members the opportunity to be part The Barclays Community Football Fund first, before we open up to external groups.
Successful applicants will receive a £500 grant, online training and exclusive offers including match tickets and player visits!
Not a Sported member? Register your interest below to find out when the programme will be open to non-members or find out more about free Sported membership.
“We are thrilled to be working with Barclays on this truly transformative project. They have done so much to make football accessible and we are excited to be bringing their support to community groups. We know that there is a huge difference between the number of boys and girls who are currently benefitting from the game of football and this project seeks to address that.
Sadly, there are also other groups who are also under-represented at football groups – culturally diverse communities, people with disabilities, people from the LGBTQ+ community and those from lower socio-economic groups – and Sported’s aim is to tackle these existing inequalities , so that every young person has the same opportunity to fulfil their potential. To have the opportunity to work with Barclays in communities to tackle this issue is a privilege.”
Nicola Walker, CEO Sported
Tom Corbett, Group Head of Sponsorship and Media, Barclays :
“We are delighted to announce this new fund which will support communities through football. Barclays has done much to support the elite game and the accessibility of football through schools. Through this partnership with Sported we can create greater and more equal access to football through community groups and help to provide more opportunities for all. Football is about so much more than fitness and fun; it brings communities together and creates positive environments for young people to thrive.”