Kent FA Foundation is Open!

The Kent FA Foundation is now open for funding applications.

The reality of grassroots football and the challenging economic environment means that the Kent FA has received the following comments over recent years;

- “They do not provide us with funding.”
- “There is not enough help with funding for facilities, kit and equipment.”
- “They take money from us and give nothing back.”
- “They should give some money back to the clubs.”
- “There is a lack of funding for small facility improvements.”
- “We desperately need financial assistance.”

Well we have certainly listened and we are now delighted to announce that the Kent FA Foundation is formally open for funding applications in order to reinvest money back into local communities, and increase participation levels in grassroots football.

Through the Kent FA Foundation, we hope to invest, support and inspire local grassroots football to ensure that more people in Kent become physically active through football and underrepresented groups have appropriate football opportunities.

The Kent FA Foundation has been established in order to;

- Invest in football activities and facilities across Kent that enable people to improve their mental, social and physical wellbeing.
- Support football participation levels for players of all abilities, especially for those who are currently physically inactive.
- Inspire the volunteer network that underpins grassroots football and enables local football to flourish.
- Get more people physically active through football and ensuring underrepresented groups have appropriate football opportunities.

The Kent FA Foundation will have 3 grant programmes at its core;

1. Community football grants up to £2,000 which will provide small amounts of funding to help volunteers along the way in their quest to simply provide football opportunities and retain participation levels.
2. Strategic football grants between £2,000 and £5,000 which will provide funding for projects that will have a positive impact on increasing football participation levels.
3. Targeted football grants that will ensure underrepresented groups have appropriate football opportunities. We are currently looking to support the establishment of 15 new female teams.

Barry Bright, Kent FA Foundation Chairman, stated that “The establishment of a Kent FA Foundation is a major boost for grassroots football in our great county. In addition to myself, Philip Smith (Kent FA Chairman), Malcolm Mclean (Kent FA Finance Director) and Paul Dolan (Kent FA Chief Executive) as Trustees, we are delighted to welcome Sophie Ward (Kent Sport) and Charlotte Richardson (K Sports) as Independent Trustees. The trustees will ensure that the money goes to where it is needed most.”

The online application portal can be accessed here