Barclays Community Football Fund
Football opens doors to skills that last a lifetime. That’s why Barclays is giving grants to community sports groups who need it most.
At Barclays, we believe in creating opportunities for all through access to football. That’s why, in partnership with Sported, the Barclays Community Football Fund offers grants, training, and exclusive ticketing offers to make football more accessible in communities across the UK.*
Since 2022, the Barclays Community Football Fund has helped more than 2900 community sports groups to make football more accessible, with over 430,000 young people supported by the fund so far.
How can my club or group get involved?
The innovative £1million-a-year fund focuses on groups operating in areas of high deprivation and supporting young people from the following underrepresented groups: women and girls, racially diverse communities, young people with disabilities, from the LGBT+ community, and from lower socio-economic groups.
The Barclays Community Football Fund is now closed for 2024 applications. It will reopen in early 2025.
To find out if you are eligible, and to apply for a £1000 grant for a community sport group you work with, visit the Sported website.
Community sports groups can apply to receive:
- £1000 grant to spend on increasing underrepresented young people’s access to play football
- Access to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion training and resources
- Exclusive opportunities to apply for Premier League and Barclays Women’s Super League tickets and mascot places
- Opportunities to access further funding, including female coaching grants and Deep Impact grants up to £5000 (subject to eligibility)
About the Barclays Community Football Fund
The Barclays Community Football Fund, delivered in partnership with Sported, helps to reduce inequalities in football, with grants made available annually to sports groups that wish to start or expand their football offering to underrepresented audiences.*
The innovative programme focuses on groups operating in areas of high deprivation and supporting young people from one of the following underrepresented groups: women and girls; racially diverse communities; lower socio-economic groups; people with disabilities; and people from the LGBT+ community.
The fund will support 5,500 community groups across the UK with a total investment of £1million a year over three years. This will engage more than 500,000 young people in inclusive football activities.
*Eligibility criteria apply. UK only. Grants subject to availability. This is a three-year funding programme running from January 2022 until December 2024.
The fund in action
Sparking opportunities in Manchester
Real change happens when you empower Black communities.
A decade in football with Soho FC
For 10 years, Soho FC has given members of the LGBT+ community and allies a safe space to play football.
An Ian Wright and Kelly Smith ‘plasterclass’
We teamed up with Volunteer It Yourself to build female changing rooms at Cheetham Hill Sports Club.
Football opens doors to skills that last a lifetime
That’s why the Barclays Community Football Fund is giving grants to local sports groups who need it most.
About Sported
Sported is the UK’s largest sport for development organisation, supporting more than 3,000 community groups to use the power of sport to create positive social impact.