Research shows exercising more was the UK’s most common New Year’s resolution for 2024*, and the Government is helping hundreds of thousands more people across the UK keep their resolution and get active by delivering high-quality grassroots sport facilities.
From Belfast to Bracknell, over 1,100 projects are receiving funding that will go towards facilities such as changing rooms, pavilions, state of the art 3G artificial grass pitches, goalposts and floodlights, improving access to sport and physical activity for local communities.
Sports Minister Stuart Andrew announced the funding during a visit to Oaklands Park in Chichester, where over £700,000 from the Government, The Premier League and The FA’s Football Foundation will help Chichester City Youth FC (CCYFC) use the expanded capacity on their new pitch to support even more teams.
With the new funding, Chichester City FC and CCYFC will also build on their strong women and girls offering by increasing the number of teams within five years of completion of the new pitch.
Sports Minister Stuart Andrew said:
Sport and physical activity are vital to our mental health and wellbeing, and each year thousands of people make a New Year’s resolution to exercise more.
We know one of the major barriers to getting active is having access to high-quality sports facilities, which is why we are investing in 1,100 more projects, backed by £93 million.
This government has delivered thousands of new projects across the UK with the aim of getting over 120,000 more people to get active, helping us to make big strides towards meeting our ambitious target of 3.5 million more people active by 2030.
As part of an £81 million investment, 900 projects in England are already benefiting from funding from the Government and its Football Foundation partners the Premier League and The FA, with many more to follow.
This will deliver over 60 artificial grass pitch projects, over 130 grass pitch projects and 35 changing facility projects, as well as floodlights and goalposts.
Local communities across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will also benefit with an unprecedented £12 million being invested by the UK Government in 2023/24, delivered in partnership with the Scottish FA, the Irish FA, Cymru Football Foundation and Football Association of Wales. A further £9 million is also being committed across the home nations for projects to be delivered through 2024/25.
In Scotland, the funding will deliver over 20 artificial grass pitch projects and four grass pitch projects. In Wales eight projects will get new changing rooms, while 12 projects in Northern Ireland are set to benefit from new floodlighting.
Some of the beneficiaries from this year’s round of investment include:
- Wirral Borough Council has received £1.1 million for a new 3G artificial grass pitch, changing rooms and grass pitch works at the Bidston Sports and Activity Centre in Birkenhead.
- Norfolk County Football Association has received over £670,000 for a brand new 7-a-side floodlit 3G artificial grass pitch.
- Poppleton United FC in York has received almost £20,000 for a new tractor and mower.
- Portland United Youth FC in Dorset has received over £10,000 for new portable floodlights.
- Dunfermline Athletic FC will receive £325,000 for a brand new artificial grass pitch.
- Cyngor Gwynedd in Wales has received £300,000 for a new artificial grass pitch at Arfon Leisure Centre.
- Fivemiletown United Football Club in Northern Ireland has received £400,000 for a new artificial grass pitch with floodlights.
A full list of the facilities to benefit was published today.
The Government’s Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme is investing in areas that are most in need of new or renovated facilities, with at least 50 per cent of the investment to be spent in the most deprived local authorities with high levels of inactivity. Through the programme more high quality facilities are being made available for people to play football, rugby and other grassroots sports.
Since 2021, the Government, along with its partners, have helped deliver new facilities or improvements at almost 2,400 sites across the UK aiming to get at least 120,000 more people active, through the £325 million programme. This investment is supporting grassroots clubs up and down the country, including women’s and girls teams.
It also follows the Government and The FA announcing an additional £30 million to build 30 new state of the art 3G pitches and facilities to prioritise women’s and girls’ teams across England, following the Lionesses success at UEFA EURO 2022, and the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.
Robert Sullivan, CEO, Football Foundation said:
This year, the Football Foundation will provide more great places to play than ever before.
This 3G stadia pitch is just one of many sports facilities across the county that will have a transformative impact on physical and mental wellbeing, bringing people together and strengthening the local community here in Chichester from the roots up.
Thanks to investment from the Premier League, The FA and Government we will deliver better pitches ensuring healthier lives and stronger communities.
The Government recently published its new sport strategy to get 2.5 million more adults and one million more young people meeting the Chief Medical Officer’s guidance of 150 minutes of exercise per week for adults, and 60 minutes per day for young people by 2030.
To help reach this target, the funding announced today is part of the Government’s unprecedented investment of over £400 million in grassroots facilities, including park tennis courts and swimming pools.