THE Sun is today launching a landmark Footie For All Fund to help protect kids’ clubs hit hard by the cost-of-living crisis.
We have teamed up with Tesco’s Stronger Starts programme to hand out £150,000 worth of grants to grass roots youth football clubs struggling with funds.
The cash can be used in any way that encourages more children to take up the sport or improves access to the game.
Perhaps you are a local team that wants to offer parents help with membership fees.
Maybe you need new kits or more pitch space to play on.
Grants can also be used to help with transport or general running costs.
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Earlier this year we launched our Footie For All campaign to shine a light on how financial struggles were forcing kids to give up football.
Figures showed that 94 per cent of grass roots clubs were concerned about the impact soaring costs were having on their membership, according to charity Sported.
In the wake of our probe we have been inundated with stories of local youth sides — who make a huge difference to their communities — struggling to cover their costs.
Clubs across the country also told us how some kids are being forced to drop out altogether as families can not pay their membership subs or for kit and transport.
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So today we urge grass roots clubs to apply for one of our fantastic £1,000 Footie For All support grants.
Launched in conjunction with Tesco’s Stronger Starts campaign — which funds healthy food and activities for children — we will dish out 150 grants in total to clubs across the country.
Christine Heffernan, Tesco group communications director, said: “The Tesco Stronger Starts grant programme provides £5million of funding to get more children and their families access to healthy and nutritious food and physical activities.
“We thought that The Footie For All programme would be a great extension to that to help kids to thrive.
“Any child should be able to do physical activity they enjoy if they wish, taking away the worry about paying for subs or kit for example.”
Our campaign is being backed by big names in the game.
Match Of The Day host Gary Lineker said: “I think grass roots is vital.
“That’s where everyone starts. Some of us finish at the top, some don’t, but we all enjoy it.”
Sun columnist Harry Redknapp added: “Grass roots football is important, and we need to ensure there are facilities for kids.”
Reality star Joey Essex is also keen to see kids keep playing.
He said: “Football provides an escape for so many kids from whatever else is going on. The Sun is offering families a lifeline.”
To apply for one of our grants, see tescostrongerstarts. org.uk/footiefund.
Grants will be awarded by The Sun with charity Groundwork, which runs Tesco’s grant-giving programmes, on a rolling basis.
Applications must be made by October 29.
SOMERTON TOWN
YOUTH football club Somerton Town, Somerset, kept its membership subs frozen for three years to help families cope through Covid and the cost-of-living crisis.
But organisers had to raise them from £95 to £120 this season after rises of up to 30 per cent in costs.
Since it was founded in 2001, Somerton have played a unique social role for its 187 players, across 11 teams.
Chairman Justin Davies, 40, says: “We have a huge catchment area that contains areas with large-scale social and economic deprivation.
“Playing football teaches young people about teamwork, respect and fair play.
“Little things like shaking hands before and after a match to show respect to the other team is important.
“When we put the prices up, 21 players left, with 20 not going on to join another club. It was a financial decision.”
HACKNEY WICK FC
AFTER leaving prison in 2019, Bobby Kasanga started Hackney Wick FC, in East London, to stop other children falling into a life of crime.
It now has more than 180 children on its books and a waiting list of even more who want to be part of its teams.
For many families, the club is a way to keep their children on the right path – and Bobby, 37, who spent eight years inside for armed robbery, never turns anyone away.
He says: “We try to do as much as we can to alleviate financial stress and often let kids play without paying or offer discounts if a family has multiple kids with us.
“We’ve seen it getting worse recently, but we know turning anyone away could see them get taken in by gangs.
“If we can’t have them, the gangs certainly will.”
To play a year at Hackney costs around £250.
But Bobby and his team are writing off around £5,000 of unpaid subs because they know families can’t afford it.
He says: “We rely on our sponsors and they’ve been amazing.
Last year, one covered the cost of 20 kids for a year. But it’s hard to keep our heads above water.”
The club’s relationships with local businesses provide more than just financial help.
Bobby says: “We’ve had four of our players taken on by one of our sponsors.
“It means they have a stable income and a potential career for life.
“That’s so important for helping them stay out of danger.
“But even if they end up going down a bad path, the club relationships across the whole of East London may help diffuse violent situations.
“They may stop an attack because they know the other gang member from football.”
Bobby adds: “I never want anyone to go through what I went through growing up.
“We are a family and I won’t take football away from them over money.”
BLACKBURN EAGLES
LIKE other clubs, Blackburn Eagles have also seen more kids struggling to pay – but it never turns anyone away.
The club, which is the biggest in its area with 650 players on its books, feels it is vital for all kids to have access to the beautiful game and tries to keep its fees low.
In fact, the academy’s vice-chairman, Chris Hughes, 39, says prices have not been put up in around eight years.
He adds: “We don’t turn anyone away.
“We just take more children, create new groups, create new training sessions and create new teams.”
But the club has recently had to take teams out of the Junior Premier League due to the cost of the four-hour round trips to play other teams across the North West.
Chris says: “Football gives kids a good focus and can be a massive part of certain children’s lives.
“It might be the one thing they’ll look forward to all week, and sometimes it gets them out of situations where maybe they don’t want to be at home all the time.”
HOW TO APPLY
WE want to hear the story of your club and the huge difference you are making to kids and your community.
If you are a not-for-profit grassroots football club in England, Wales or Scotland working with youngsters under the age of 18 you could be eligible for one of our 150 grants.
Funds can be used for anything that encourages more children to take part in the sport.
Perhaps your club needs help with pitch fees or wants to sponsor funded places for children who can not afford membership.
To apply and for full T&Cs, see tescostrongerstarts.org.uk/footiefund.
WHAT THE STARS SAY
“GRASSROOTS football is where it began for all of us.
“It brings happiness for so many people and it’s so important nothing gets in the way of everyone having that opportunity.”
“I SPENT my childhood with a ball at my feet.
“Playing with a team gives kids an outlet and a chance to learn discipline and to make friends with people they might not have met.”
“MY mentor got me in to football to correct my behaviour.
“I found something I wanted to put my energy in to.
“I fell in love with it – and I made friends for life.”
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“WE can’t let kids see their dream die simply because Mum or Dad can’t afford to pay for the subs, kit and travel.
“Football is for everyone and it’s massively important it stays that way.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
