Grants are available through the National League Trust for wide range of projects, particularly those that are:
- Working with minority groups
- New football activity such as women and girls teams
- Keep fit or activity classes
- Work health-related areas such as obesity or anti-smoking initiatives
- Support for youth groups or the elderly
Applications can be made by a community charitable trust or community interest company, associated with a National League club.
To be eligible for funding the main club must be a member of the National League during the season of application. Club Community Organisations (CCO) representatives must also have attended one of the Trust’s funding workshops or received pre-application advice.
CCOs can either apply once a year or ask for all of the ceiling towards one project or programme, or a number of times during the season (as long as the total of all grants is within the grant ceiling).
The smallest grant that can be applied for is £5,000.
Applicants need to show where the rest of the money is going to come from, but it does not have to be in place at the time of application. Matching funds may come from any source.
The next funding round is 3 April 2023 application deadline. Decisions will be made in early May, with projects to start from mid-May.
Their deadlines are designed so that applications can be made in time to run projects at key points in the year, such as school holidays or for the start of a season.
Applications can be for a new project, or an existing one where our funds will enhance or increase activity already taking place. The project can last for a short time or for a whole year. However, the application must be approved before the project starts.
They can cover a range of costs including:
- Sessional workers (such as qualified coaches, teachers, support workers)
- Equipment – either hire or purchase
- IT equipment (not to be used for Club administration)
- Other materials for use in your project
- Publicity materials – such as leaflets, posters and websites
- Training and qualification costs – such as coach or referee qualifications
- DBS costs
- Transport costs – subject to certain criteria
- Venue and pitch hire
- Volunteer expenses for travel and food.
However, they are unable to fund day-to-day running costs (for example, utility bills, council tax, rent and insurance). They also can’t fund capital projects relating to e.g., land and buildings.
