Sky Bet EFL Building Foundations Fund applications now open! £1million to be awarded to EFL club charities during 2024-25 season

Sky Bet have launched the second season of their Building Foundations Fund, inviting applications for a share of £1million to be dished out to EFL club charities during the 2024-25 campaign.

A total of £800,000 was allocated in the 2023-24 season. The fund is designed to help to improve the quality of life within communities through the access to, and quality of, community football provision and other initiatives in England and Wales.

League Two outfit Accrington Stanley received the most of any club during the first edition of the fund as they were given £100,000, through the Accrington Stanley Community Trust, to invest in a new small-sided 3G pitch.

More than 100 new weekly sessions were put on by club charities resulting from the funding, with over 7,500 additional participants involved. 

Walking football and active ageing, along with initiatives to help with homelessness, employability, adult disability and veteran provision, were among the most popular programmes.

Sky Bet ambassador and former Soccer Saturday host Jeff Stelling will help select the winning bids as part of a panel of industry experts.

The fund is designed to help to improve the quality of life within communities through football

‘EFL Clubs play a significant and integral role in their communities, often delivering vital support, interventions, and programmes across England and Wales,’ said EFL director of community Debbie Cook.

‘The scale and impact of the work is being demonstrated in our 72 towns and cities during EFL’s Week of Action. 

‘Not only do over one million people positively benefit from engaging in club activity every season, but for every £1 spent on community investment, £11 is generated in social value, highlighting the pivotal role our clubs play in helping to tackle society’s key issues.’

Sky Bet’s managing director Dan Colton spoke to the success of the fund since its inception.

‘The impact we’ve seen across year one of the Building Foundations Fund has shown the collective power of the club charities to transform financial backing into tangible improvements to the lives of thousands throughout England and Wales,’ he said.

‘As we enter the new funding window, we hope to see applications for an even wider range of initiatives and infrastructure which can continue to benefit communities for years to come.’ 

Applications for the first phase will be open until Friday January 10.