Birmingham County FA is delighted to reveal details of its brand-new Club Innovation Fund, which will support the growth and development of affiliated clubs across the West Midlands.

The Club Innovation Fund (CIF) has been established using Birmingham County FA funding so clubs can improve their environmental footprint and positively impact their local communities. In turn, the Club Innovation Fund allows clubs to inform Birmingham County FA of their own innovative ideas and initiatives they’d like to introduce to help move their club forward both on and off the pitch.

As one of the leading County FAs in England, Birmingham County FA has become renowned as one that provides support to enable clubs to develop their traditional on-field activities.

In recent years, Birmingham County FA has been approached by a number of its affiliated clubs keen to improve in other areas, in a bid to drive club-specific agendas such as recycling schemes, reducing the use of single use plastic, health and wellbeing at the club and within the community, improving the environment, reducing crime rates and positively impacting on anti-social behaviour, as well as allowing clubs to be innovative in their approach to other areas and the communities they serve.

A maximum grant of £500 per BCFA affiliated club per two years is available, which includes all sites and playing sections within a club. It is not intended to enable clubs to purchase new or replacement kit, balls, cones, bibs or match/training equipment.

Birmingham County FA CEO, Kevin Shoemake, said: “Football clubs are so much more than a place for people to go and play, coach, officiate or watch a ball being kicked. The impact that clubs have on the environment and their local communities is incredible and this ethos is something many clubs and volunteers embrace to ensure that they do their part to make their community a better place. Birmingham County FA wants to help that ethos and the Club Innovation Fund provides an opportunity that traditional funding streams don’t; the ability to develop areas of a club that can leave a positive, lasting impact on its locality – whether they are involved in the club or not.”

Below is an example of just some of the areas that the Birmingham County FA would be happy to support, in addition to the grant available for that specific area.

• Defibrillators; up to £250
• Water fountains; up to £250
• Solar panels; up to £500
• Recycle bins; up to £100
• Electric car charging points; up to £250

However, there is no restriction to the type of project that can be included as Birmingham County FA is keen to learn about any innovative ideas that can be showcased locally and nationally and what support is required to enable clubs to deliver or kickstart their own initiatives.

To apply for funding through the Club Innovation Fund, please complete the CIF smartsheet below:

cif smartsheet