Venues are awarded improvement grants
THREE more venues in Suffolk are to benefit from Football Foundation funding to the value of more than £67,000.
The Lakenheath Pavilion site is to receive £26,568 towards the total cost of £39,852 for grass pitch maintenance work.
The application was jointly submitted by Lakenheath Youth FC and Lakenheath Casuals FC.
Ipswich Exiles Youth FC in Ipswich have been awarded a grant of £38,640 towards grass pitch maintenance work costing £57,960 at their Bourne Vale Sports Club ground. Action from a match at Bourne Vale Sports Club is pictured above.
Meanwhile, Haverhill Community Sports Association are to also receive a Football Foundation grant to upgrade their facility.
The HCSA have been awarded £1,800 towards 9v9 goals supplied by MH Goals Ltd to improve facilities at The New Croft venue in Haverhill.
Suffolk FA Football Development Manager Jodie Allard said: “It’s great to see our clubs taking full advantage of the grant aid that the Football Foundation has made available to them.
“I’m sure the investment will make a real impact on improving the quality of facilities at these key sites within Suffolk.
“Clubs with grassroots teams, meaning those in youth age groups or below step 7 of the national league system, are eligible to access financial support through the Football Foundation’s single fund, specifically for smaller capital projects up to a grant request of £25,000.”
Clubs can complete an application via the Football Foundation’s new website by clicking here.
Jodie continued: “With the new Football Foundation funding matrix grassroots clubs can now apply for up to £25,000 for smaller projects, which is funded up to a 75 per cent basis from the Foundation.
“Clubs can now go back to this pot as often as they wish, which was previously restricted to every two years.
“The projects you are automatically eligible for are storage containers, portable floodlights, new or replacement goalposts, fencing, clubhouse refurbishment works and pitch maintenance equipment.”
The funding for pitch improvement grants is linked to the Suffolk FA Pitch Improvement Programme (PIP) which is sponsored by Parkers Pitches.
This supports the improvement of grass pitch sites through bespoke advice, access to local partnerships and support towards capital and revenue funding from the Football Foundation where needed.
To find out more about the Suffolk FA Pitch Improvement Programme sponsored by Parkers Pitches click here.