About Football foundation
Football Foundation: Improving Communities Through Football
Football is more than just a sport. It brings people together, creates a sense of community, and provides opportunities for personal growth and development. The Football Foundation is an organization that recognizes the power of football to transform lives and communities. As the Premier League, The FA, and Government's charity, the Football Foundation invests in local football facilities across England to make them more welcoming, well-maintained, and safe for everyone who wants to play or support the beautiful game.
The Football Foundation was established in 2000 with a mission to improve grassroots football facilities across England. Since then, it has invested over £1 billion in more than 17,000 projects that have benefited millions of people. Its funding comes from its partners - the Premier League, The FA, and Government - who share its vision of creating better places to play football.
The foundation's work is guided by four key principles: accessibility, quality maintenance standards (QMS), sustainability and inclusivity.
Accessibility means ensuring that everyone has access to high-quality football facilities regardless of their background or ability level. This includes investing in new pitches or upgrading existing ones so they meet modern standards.
Quality Maintenance Standards (QMS) are essential for ensuring that facilities remain safe and well-maintained over time. The foundation works closely with facility owners/managers to ensure they have access to training on how best maintain their facility.
Sustainability means investing in projects that will last for years rather than just providing short-term fixes. This includes using environmentally friendly materials where possible as well as designing facilities with long-term use in mind.
Inclusivity means making sure that everyone feels welcome at local football clubs regardless of their gender identity or ethnicity etc.. This includes supporting initiatives such as women’s/girls’ teams or disability teams which can help break down barriers within communities
The impact of the Football Foundation's work can be seen across England. From new 3G pitches in urban areas to refurbished changing rooms in rural communities, the foundation's investments have transformed local football facilities and created opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to get involved in the sport.
One example of the Football Foundation's work is its partnership with Hackney Marshes Centre. The centre is one of London's most popular football venues, with over 100 pitches used by thousands of players every week. However, the facilities were outdated and in need of significant investment. The Football Foundation provided £1 million towards a £4 million renovation project that included new changing rooms, toilets, showers and a café.
Another example is its partnership with St George’s Park National Football Centre which opened in 2012 as England’s national football centre for coaching education and development. The facility has since become a hub for grassroots football development across England.
The Football Foundation also supports community initiatives such as Premier League Kicks which provides free sports activities for young people living in disadvantaged areas across England.
In conclusion, the Football Foundation is an organization that recognizes the power of football to transform lives and communities. Its investments have improved local facilities across England making them more welcoming, well-maintained and safe for everyone who wants to play or support the beautiful game. By investing in accessibility, quality maintenance standards (QMS), sustainability and inclusivity it has created opportunities for people from all backgrounds to get involved in grassroots football at both recreational or competitive levels - helping build stronger communities through sport!
footballfoundation.org.uk
