Grassroots Football Grants
With so many grassroots football club grants available, finding the right one can be challenging. It can be a hassle to figure out what funding you’re eligible for since deadlines, funding amounts, and the application process often changes.
To save you time, we’ve put together the ultimate list of four of the best grassroots football club grants.
Whatever your needs are, we have a grant for you, from funding and reducing inequality to upgrading your clubhouse.
Keep reading to discover our list of grassroots football club grants. You can also find full in-depth criteria for each grant by clicking the links.
Four grassroots football club grants you can apply for
1. The Be Active Wales Fund
The Be Active Wales Fund is a great scheme that offers a wide range of grants for grassroots football clubs. The grants can be used to upskill volunteers, buy equipment that allows more to take part in sports, and reach people who are currently underrepresented in sports.
What does the Be Active Wales Fund cover?
- Equipment
- Coaching courses that help to upskill volunteers
- Entry level training courses (such as first aid)
- Venue hire for new teams
- Pitch improvement projects
Both not-for-profit clubs and community groups can apply. The eligibility criteria for The Be Active Wales Fund are as follows:
- Must take place in Wales and be a club that mainly serves the people of Wales
- The club won’t have started yet
- It can’t include anything that has already been bought
- Must show how it will help more people take part in sport
- Grants from £300 to £50,000 are available.
There are three opening windows that occur each year – keep an eye on their website to ensure you don’t miss them.
2. Grassroots Fund – Powered by Utilita Energy High 5
This no-nonsense grant markets itself as a no strings attached scheme. With the goal of helping grassroots clubs, leagues and volunteers that want to make a difference.
Grants can be used for a project, an emergency or just to say thank you to someone working within the grassroots football community.
What does the Grassroots Fund cover?
- Vouchers for materials
- Gifts to say thank you to volunteers
- Support for crime and theft recovery
- Safety upgrades for clubs
- Improvements for the playing environment
The eligibility criteria for the Grassroots Fund are as follows:
- You need to be a grassroots football club that can demonstrate how it wants to make a difference with the grant.
- Applicants must come from an FA-accredited club or league and be connected to individuals or projects within grassroots football.
Team Grassroots aim to respond to all applicants within a 60-day window with applications open all year round.
3. Barclays Community Football Fund
The Barclays Community Sport Fund, which was launched in 2022, has supported more than 550,000 young people in sports so far.
Delivered in partnership with Sported – the largest grassroots charity in the UK – the fund’s aim is to reduce inequalities in sport, specifically focusing on girls and young people in football, cricket and tennis.
What does the Barclays Community Sport Fund cover?
- Grants of up to £1,000
- Opportunity for exclusive opportunities like match tickets
- Access to advice and support
The eligibility criteria for the Barclays Community Fund are as follows:
- Your club must be a not-for-profit organisation
- You must have a bank account in the name of your club
- You must have an up-to-date Safeguarding policy in place
- You offer football activities to young people (under 25) or you are wanting to start
- You currently offer football activities for girls or you are wanting to start
- You are committed to growing the membership of your football club
- You want to access training to learn about how to engage with new under-represented audiences
Grassroots football grants through Barclays are expected to reopen in April 2026.
Grants of up to £1,000 are available.
4. Warburtons Grants
Warburtons has partnered with Charities Aid Foundation to work with organisations that focus on solving significant social issues.
What do the Warburtons Grants cover?
- Community development
- Project development
- Project funding
The eligibility criteria for the Warburtons Grants are as follows:
- Community grants – you must be based in England, Scotland, or Wales
- Development grants – you must be a registered charity or CIC within 15 miles of a Warburton depot site
- Project grants – you must be a registered charity or CIC within 15 miles of a Warburton bakery or depot site
Community grants are available up to £400, development grants are available up to £3,000, and project grants range from £10,000 to £20,000.
