Find funds for grassroots football

Keeping community clubs alive takes more than passion alone – here’s how your grassroots team can benefit from the support of others 

The Football Foundation, the UK’s largest sports charity, provides targeted funding to transform grassroots football facilities nationwide. 

Its grants cover a wide range of projects, including goalposts, portable floodlights, storage containers, and catering units, as well as major infrastructure such as 3G pitches, grass pitch creation and improvements, drainage systems, fencing, and changing pavilions or clubhouses. 

Clubs can also access funding for maintenance machinery to ensure pitches remain in top condition, while the Premier League Defibrillator Fund enhances player safety. Together, these initiatives help community clubs grow sustainably and offer safe, welcoming environments for players of all ages.

While facilities are vital, so too is making sure every player feels part of a team. Energy provider Octopus Energy has stepped in with its hugely popular Kits for Kids scheme, returning for the 2025–26 season.

This initiative provides free football kits – shirts, shorts, and socks – to grassroots clubs across the UK, easing financial pressures on both families and clubs.

Over the years, thousands of young players have run onto pitches in smart, professional-looking gear, helping to build confidence and belonging. For many families, the scheme ensures their children can focus on football, not the cost of equipment.

Another major grassroots supporter is McDonald’s, whose Fun Football programme is committed to delivering 10 million hours of football to 1 million children across the UK by 2026. 

At the heart of this are Fun Football Centres, which provide free coaching sessions for 5-11-year-olds. Sessions are inclusive, game-based, and designed to build skills without the pressure of matches. Every coach is at least Level 1 qualified, ensuring children receive safe, positive, and developmental experiences.

During the summer, Fun Football Festivals bring the game into communities, with skills zones, free activities, and coaching challenges. These events aren’t just about football – they’re about creating lasting memories for children and families, many of whom are trying the sport for the first time.