Club insight sought on future of football stadia improvement fund
Clubs and stakeholders from across the National League System and the Women's Football Pyramid are invited to provide their views on the Football Stadia Improvement Fund (FSIF) in April, as the grant-giving body begins a strategic review of its funding priorities and criteria.
The review of the Premier League-financed FSIF, is seeking insight from clubs across the country on ways in which the process for applying for funding could be made easier in the future, what the future priorities for the fund should be and how the FSIF aligns with the current FA Ground-Grading process.
The FA is also using the FSIF consultation to seek views from non-league clubs to inform a separate review of Ground-Grading requirements. It is proposed that any changes to the FSIF as a result of the review would be implemented ahead of the 2022/23 season.
Since it was established in 2000, the FSIF has offered more than 2,400 grants worth more than £149m to clubs across the country to allow them to improve their stadiums' safety and meet the Ground-Grading criteria. Over the last 12 months, the FSIF has reacted to the needs of clubs offering a number of grants to support their ongoing sustainability during the Covid-19 pandemic. A total of 1,090 clubs across 65 leagues have benefited from Premier League funding through the Matchday Support Fund, which has distributed more than £5.5 million to allow clubs to put measures in place to make grounds safer. Historically grants have been offered to support capital projects such as new covered seating, changing rooms and pitch maintenance equipment.
League representatives and Clubs from Step 1 to 6 of the National League System and Tiers 1 - 5 of the Women's Football Pyramid, will be contacted by email in the coming days and asked to complete a short 15-minute survey for their insight on the organisation, as it looks to modernise its processes to ensure it remains fit for purpose as we return to football and recover from the effects of Covid-19. After a very difficult period for the game, now is the time to reflect and determine how the money available will support clubs and have maximum impact.
Dean Potter, Director of Grant Management at the FSIF said:
"We hope that this review will provide some valuable insight into what football clubs really need as we return to football in the coming months. This is the first review of the Fund that we have carried out for a number of years and it provides an opportunity for clubs to tell us what they really need to improve their stadiums and facilities. We want to evolve the FSIF to ensure it remains a fit-for-purpose, efficient solution to help clubs meet their Ground-Grading requirements, by targeting funding to where it is most needed."
Clubs will receive the invite to complete the electronic survey directly from their League Secretary, with clubs asked to have submitted their responses no later than midnight on Sunday 25 April.
For more information, please contact:
The Football Foundation Communications Team at communications@footballfoundation.org.uk
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