The floodgates have opened on funding in Herefordshire with grassroots projects around the county benefiting from the Football Foundation’s small grants scheme.
Successful projects include both the Flights Resident Association and Kemble Housing who are using football as a way of curbing anti-social behaviour in the area with the projects targeting local children aged 6-18.
Herefordshire FA’s Paul Carpenter commented: “The initiatives are delivering activities close to the participants’ homes to ensure access and both include football training and playing opportunities.
“We’re hoping that they’ll lead to the formation of new teams for junior boys and girls plus adults as well."
It’s hoped that both projects will also be supported by an influx of new adult volunteers with an ongoing recruitment process to ensure their long-term future.
Paul added: “The adult volunteers will be able to gain FA coaching, referee and medical qualifications to benefit both the project and themselves.
“New players and volunteers will support the formation of new football clubs and teams that will affiliate to the FA," said the Football Development Officer.
Remote areas of South-West Herefordshire are also benefiting with the Fairfield High School cluster project encouraging both boys and girls to get involved and play football on a regular basis.
Five primary schools are signed up to the project which sees the children bussed over to Fairfield High School on a weekly basis.
Fairfield boast the best football facilities in the school cluster area and Paul Carpenter commented: “The new football sessions will include FA coaching plus referee and medical qualifications for teachers and adults so that they can support and sustain the project when the funding comes to an end after three years.”
The Fairfield High School project isn’t the only successful cluster programme in Herefordshire with another two schemes running across the county and featuring 17 primary and secondary schools in total.
Paul Carpenter explained more: “The schemes are designed to provide new lunch time and after school football activity for new participants linked to the creation of new school teams, FA qualified teachers and inter school football competitions.”
The cluster scheme, which also includes Futsal, will provide a pathway for new players and FA qualified volunteers into local FA Charter Standard football clubs.