The English Football League (EFL) and its primary partner, Sky Bet, have launched a groundbreaking initiative called the Building Foundations Fund, which will provide crucial funding of £6 million to support community projects in England and Wales.
This program, introduced at Barnsley FC, represents the most substantial long-term sponsor-backed fund exclusively dedicated to community endeavors. It offers an opportunity for the 72 EFL clubs to apply for grants of up to £100,000 to either sustain ongoing programs or create new initiatives.
Starting from the 2023/24 season, Sky Bet will contribute £1 million annually to this fund. A panel of industry experts, including Sky Bet ambassador Jeff Stelling, will evaluate and select winning proposals in various categories, such as enhancing local sports facilities and promoting the physical and social advantages of the sport.
To inaugurate the Building Foundations Fund, Club Community Organizations (CCOs) associated with each of the 72 EFL clubs will receive an initial grant of £10,000. This financial boost will empower these clubs to make a difference in their communities.
Renowned former footballer Emile Heskey, along with EFL Chair Rick Parry and Sky Bet Managing Director Dan Colton, visited Barnsley’s 3G pitch to meet participants in their walking football program, an existing community initiative for individuals over 35 that will benefit from the funding in the 2023/24 season.
For example, Blackburn Rovers plans to utilize the initial £10,000 to expand their ‘Remember the Rovers’ program, which holds weekly sessions at Ewood Park, bringing people living with dementia together through the power of footballing memories, combating social isolation.
Rick Parry, EFL Chair, expressed gratitude for the significant funding and its potential to amplify the impact of EFL clubs in their local areas, attributing this opportunity to Sky Bet’s ongoing support.
Jeff Stelling, well-known for his work in sports broadcasting, emphasized his passion for the English Football League and how this initiative could genuinely make a difference in supporting lower league clubs and their communities, which often face financial challenges.
The EFL and Sky Bet extended their partnership earlier this year, ensuring the brand’s title sponsorship until the end of the 2028/29 campaign. The commitment to a community fund was a pivotal part of this extension agreement, reinforcing their long-standing partnership that began in 2013, known for its emphasis on responsible gambling and shared social objectives.
Dan Colton, Managing Director of Sky Bet, expressed pride in their enduring partnership with the EFL and their commitment to making a positive impact through the Building Foundations Fund, which is a central component of their new agreement with the EFL.
The launch of this initiative coincides with the EFL’s annual Week of Action, where all 72 EFL members unite to demonstrate the positive influence of clubs in their communities. The extensive community work of EFL clubs in the 2021/22 season engaged over 840,000 participants and delivered 580,000 hours of community activities, generating more than £865 million of social value for towns and cities across England and Wales.
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