Sheffield-born football group aims to bring community together to tackle food poverty thanks to National Lottery funding

A community football initiative founded in Sheffield that coordinates accessible inclusive football matches and donates profits to local foodbanks, is celebrating after receiving £10,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund.

Football For Foodbanks CIC is one of over 230 organisations in Yorkshire & Humber, doing vital work with communities, to receive a share of just over £14 million in funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK.*

Launched in Sheffield in March 2021, Football For Foodbanks CIC was set up with a simple goal in mind – play football, support foodbanks. Now located in four different towns and cities across England (Sheffield; Chesterfield; Manchester; Milton Keynes), with two more launching in the next 12 months, the vital funding will help the organisation to expand further, helping more people throughout the country.

The organisation takes a casual, non-competitive approach to football and puts inclusion at the heart of the game. By coordinating matches where the overarching mission is to provide an inclusive space regardless of experience or ability, the organisation has and continues to bring people from a diverse range of backgrounds together.

The project aims to not only bring about improvements in mental and physical health for those involved, but they also use the profits from games to help local foodbanks who are currently experiencing the added challenges associated with the current cost-of-living situation.

Chris, Manager at Sheffield S6 Foodbank said: "At the moment, the situation is really difficult for a lot of people, but Football For Foodbanks has helped us support more of the most disadvantaged individuals across the city."

Matty Cassell, Director and Founder of Football For Foodbanks said: "Thanks to National Lottery players, we are able to spread our support wider into new towns and cities. This means fuller cupboards across the country, and more inclusive football being played."

One regular player for Football For Foodbanks said: "Football For Foodbanks has been an integral part of my happiness and fulfilment since moving to a new city and continues to be my primary source of support here.

“Since playing with them almost two years ago, I have rediscovered lost confidence and improved my mental health after a nervous breakdown led to the diagnosis of my anxiety disorder.

“Football For Foodbanks is of paramount importance to the community of supporters and the individuals who are given a chance to play football and find a place to belong, no matter who you are.

“Every volunteer and every person associated with the CIC shares the responsibility to ensure everyone's backgrounds and choices are represented, respected and championed.

“The clear aim of an inclusive atmosphere is immediately apparent to everyone, making sure that equality spans gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity and much more.

“It's helped me and others to make fantastic friends, encouraging social aspects away from football too; providing opportunities for everyone to participate. These people give their precious time to showing that football is more than just a game; it's a chance to change lives, one city at a time."

Joe Dobson, Head of Regional Funding for Yorkshire & Humber at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “Thanks to National Lottery players, this vital funding will have a huge impact on people’s lives across the country. Our funding plays a big role in helping communities to unleash their potential and it is great to see groups like the Football For Foodbanks CIC making a positive difference and continuing to support their communities to thrive.”

Yorkshire & Humber isn’t alone in benefiting from National Lottery funding. Today it was announced that almost £133 million has been awarded to over 2,400 projects in England in the past three months.*

National Lottery players raise over £30 million each week for good causes across the UK. In the last 12 months we have given out nearly £600 million to 12,500 organisations reaching every local authority and constituency in the UK.

To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk

Date published: 14 March, 2023
Region: England (Yorkshire and the Humber)

Notes to Editors

* These figures are for funding awarded from 26 November 2022 – 24 February 2023

About The National Lottery Community Fund

We are the largest funder of community activity in the UK – we support people and communities to prosper and thrive.

We’re proud to award money raised by National Lottery players to communities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and to work closely with Government to distribute vital grants and funding from key Government programmes and initiatives.

Our funding has a positive impact and makes a difference to people’s lives. We support projects focused on things that matter, including economic prosperity, employment, young people, mental health, loneliness and helping the UK reach net zero by 2050.

Thanks to the support of National Lottery players, our funding is open to everyone. We’re privileged to be able to work with the smallest of local groups right up to UK-wide charities, enabling people and communities to bring their ambitions to life.

National Lottery players raise over £30 million each week for good causes throughout the UK. Since The National Lottery began in 1994, £43 billion has been raised for good causes. National Lottery funding has been used to support over 635,000 projects - 255 projects per postcode area.

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