SUFFOLK FA will again be offering three player support funds during the 2024-25 season.

The three funds are the Benevolent Fund, the Safe Eyewear Fund and the Youth Retention Fund.

Details of the three funds are outlined below.

Benevolent Fund

The Benevolent Fund assists injured youth and adult players, and referees, who have been injured through affiliated football participation and their financial circumstances have been affected as a result of that injury.

Clubs must also demonstrate attempts have been made to financially assist a player as part of any application, alongside provision of proof of the injury and loss of finances as a result of their injury. Successful application to the Suffolk FA Benevolent Fund also opens opportunity to apply to The FA Benevolent Fund.

The Benevolent Fund does not replace Personal Accident Insurance, which every team purchases as a statutory requirement of affiliation. Application/claim for both Personal Accident Insurance and Benevolent Fund is possible.

For further information and application forms click the below link.

CLICK HERE

Safe Eyewear Fund

Having the correct, safe eyewear is important for those playing football in Suffolk. Wearing everyday glasses whilst playing risks injury to either the player or other participants. Within the Laws of the Game, match officials can prevent players wearing glasses from playing if the participants’ glasses are deemed unsafe.

Suffolk FA offer the Safe Eyewear Fund to ensure all players, adult and youth, wear the correct safety eyewear to participate in the game.

Clubs are required to have contributed to the Suffolk FA Benevolent Fund to be eligible, with potential financial support linked to the level of contribution as below:

• 100% of total purchase price if Benevolent Fund donation in either season has been >£25
• 80% of total purchase price if Benevolent Fund donation in either season has been £25.
• 70% of total purchase price if Benevolent Fund donation in either season has been £20 - £24.
• 60% of total purchase price if Benevolent Fund donation in either season has been £15 - £19.
• 50% of total purchase price if Benevolent Fund donation in either season has been £10 - £14.
• 40% of total purchase price if Benevolent Fund donation in either season has been £5 - £9.
• 30% of total purchase price if Benevolent Fund donation in either season has been £1 - £4.

The maximum total award value per club over the season is as follows:

For further information and an application form click the below link.

CLICK HERE

Youth Retention Fund

The Youth Retention Fund supports families who are facing financial challenges, meaning young players are in danger of not being able to afford to play for an affiliated youth team (≤U18 age group).

The fund supports the cost of players’ club membership fees. and other expenses. to prevent children dropping out of football simply because of the cost of playing.

For the 2024-25 season, available support has been increased to a maximum of £600 for clubs who have 1-29 affiliated youth teams, with an additional £150 available per 1-10 youth teams.

• Clubs with 1-29 youth teams – a maximum of £600 per club (max of £150 per each individual award)
• Clubs with 30-39 youth teams – a maximum of £750 per club (max of £150 per each individual award)
• Clubs with 40-49 youth teams – a maximum of £900 per club (max of £150 per each individual award)
• Clubs with 50+ youth teams – a maximum of £1050 per club (max of £150 per each individual award)

This update to the fund allows clubs of differing sizes to access a more proportionate amount of support. A minimum donation of £10 must have been made to the Suffolk FA Benevolent Fund by the players’ club for an application to be eligible.

For further information and an application form click the below link.

CLICK HERE

All funds are now open to application for the 2024-25 season.