Memorandum submitted by the Football Foundation
The Football Foundation is the UK's largest
sports charity with an annual income of £45 million, provided
on a matching contribution basis, by the FA Premier League (£15
million), the FA (£15 million), Sport England and the Government
(£15 million).
The Foundation is playing a key role in revitalizing
grass roots sport, investing in our parks, schools and playing
fields and harnessing the power of the game within our communities,
to promote education and social inclusion. Our mission is to improve
facilities, create opportunities and build communities.
Since we were established in July 2000 we have
championed community sport:
— Supporting projects worth £290
million—including funding 569 facility projects, 624 national/local
community and education initiatives, 200 changing facilities and
over 70 artificial turf pitches. An additional £101 million
worth of projects are in the pipeline.
— Securing £141 million of additional
inward investment in football—including securing £30
million funding from Barclays Bank for a grass roots investment
programme.
— Encouraging participation in community
football—including giving over 100,000 children new football
strips and developing www.reff.org.uk, a unique database which
enables anyone who wishes to play football to find facilities
in their local area.
— Delivering value for money—securing
a £5 return on every £1 invested by each funding partner.
The Football Foundation welcomes the Committee's
decision to scrutinise the development of community sport and
would be happy to provide members with further briefing if this
would be helpful.
4 April 2005
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