Latest news with #FootballFoundation
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Basildon Council expresses interest in new state-of-the-art sports facility
Potential future Premier League football stars could soon train at a new state-of-the-art facility in Basildon. Basildon Council has expressed interest in a government scheme to bring a top-notch sports hub to the borough. Advertisement The Football Foundation programme has been seeking authorities to partner with to help bring change to the grassroots game by creating a modern sports hub, which would offer top quality sporting facilities all year round. The services supported by the hub would be based on demand in the area, but typically include two full-size floodlit 3G pitches, a car park, a café and changing rooms. Basildon Council has put forward an expression of interest to the Football Foundation, pinpointing potential sites including Eversley Park, Gloucester Park, and Holy Cross Recreation Ground. The programme draws investment from the Premier League, FA, and Sport England. Advertisement Jack Ferguson, councillor responsible for culture, sport, children, and young people, expressed the council's desire to make it a "go-to" destination for sports. He said: "The hubs programme is an exciting prospect for Basildon, which could bring a much-needed boost to the grassroots game, offering a host of other facilities that will benefit the wider community – and who knows, maybe it will produce a future star of the Premier League. "This reaffirms our commitment to create a healthier, happier Basildon and outlines our desire to make our borough a go-to destination for sporting and entertainment facilities." The site would operate on a not-for-profit basis, with the council and other organisations acting as trustees. Advertisement Any extra income from the facility would be funnelled back into local grassroots sports, creating a sustainable future for the industry. Basildon Council is now waiting for the Football Foundation's decision before choosing to submit a formal application.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Work on new sports area underway
Buckhurst Field's multi-use games area is about to be transformed (Image: South Swindon Parish Council) Work is officially underway on Swindon's newest sports area which is being inspired by a sporting facility in Birmingham. Improvement works at Buckhurst Field in Walcot were first announced in June 2024, as South Swindon Parish Council promised more recreational activities for local residents. Advertisement Plans include restored football pitches, new changing rooms, a rebuilt skatepark, a new cycleway, a tarmacked car park and a play zone. Now, with almost all of these upgrades having been completed, work has begun on the Buckhurst Field PlayZone . Fencing has gone up at the site of Walcot's new PlayZone (Image: South Swindon Parish Council) A playzone is a term coined by the Football Foundation which describes a "safe, inclusive and accessible outdoor facility that brings communities together through recreational forms of football and a range of other sports". The programme, which is seeing playzones built across the UK aims to tackle inequalities in physical activity by investing money and resources into communities with the greatest need. Advertisement A mock-up plan for the site (Image: South Swindon Parish Council) Swindon's one, which is being built at the site of Buckhurst's old MUGA (multi-use games area), has been modelled off a similar sports facility in Birmingham after parish councillors visited the city's site. It will include provisions for football, basketball and volleyball. Parish councillors and WASP staff took inspiration from this sports area in Birmingham (Image: South Swindon Parish Council) The £600,000 Buckhurst Field improvement project, of which this play zone is a part, marks South Swindon Parish's largest-ever investment into recreation facilities in the town. Advertisement "The Birmingham PlayZone facility will be replicated at Buckhurst Field this year," said a spokesperson for South Swindon Parish Council. "Heras fencing has gone up around the Buckhurst Field Multi-Use-Games-Area to prepare for work to transform the site into a Football Foundation playzone." The parish council is working in collaboration with Football Foundation, WASP and Swindon Borough Council. A parish council spokesperson previously explained that the new PlayZone would provide an "improved play experience for casual football and basketball." Recommended reading: Advertisement Approved planning permission states: 'The purpose of the Play Zone Scheme is to invest in areas with the greatest need, to encourage specific priority groups to be more active. "The specific priority groups that The Football Foundation wished to prioritise as part of this scheme are lower socio-economic groups, women and girls, disabled people and people with long-term health conditions, and ethnically diverse communities.'
The Guardian
08-06-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Football Foundation funds scholarship in memory of Stephen Lawrence
A new scholarship programme commemorating the memory of Stephen Lawrence is to be funded by the Football Foundation, with the aim of supporting black students from low socioeconomic backgrounds to train as architects and help develop more inclusive infrastructure for the national game. The Stephen Lawrence Scholarship has been developed in conjunction with Greenwich University and will see one student each academic year provided with a fee waiver for the establishment's MArch Architecture programme. The recipient of the scholarship will also work with the Football Foundation outside their studies. Stephen Lawrence aspired to become an architect before he was murdered in a racist attack in the south London neighbourhood of Eltham in 1993 at the age of 18. He was also a keen Manchester United supporter and his mother, Doreen Lawrence, said the scholarship would be a 'meaningful continuation' of his legacy. 'Through the Stephen Lawrence Scholarship, Stephen's legacy will continue to inspire and empower future generations, ensuring that his vision for equality, opportunity and justice lives on,' said Lady Lawrence, who holds an honorary doctorate at the university. '[It] will provide opportunities for the next generation and reinforce the vital role that education and sport can play in transforming communities.' The Football Foundation works to improve grassroots facilities in the sport, with an emphasis on 'where the need is greatest and the greatest impact will be made'. It is funded by the Premier League, Football Association and UK government. Robert Sullivan, the organisation's chief executive, said the scholarship would form part of its work to lower barriers to entry in the sport. 'This initiative is the perfect legacy as we work to plan, design and construct facilities that target and support groups and communities who have faced barriers in terms of participation,' Sullivan said. 'This includes lower socioeconomic groups and culturally and ethnically diverse communities. These facilities provide not only a great place to play but also a safe space for communities to come together, where people can meet and build friendships.' A lack of representation for black and minority ethnic people within football continues to be an issue for the game. In 2022, data recorded by the Black Footballers Partnership found that 43% of players in the Premier League were black but only 4.4% of former players were in managerial roles in England. Meanwhile, only 1.6% of executive and leadership roles at men's clubs were held by black people. Paul Elliott, the vice-chair of Charlton, which sits in the borough of Greenwich, helped to broker the scholarship deal. A long-term activist for racial equality in football, the former Celtic and Chelsea defender said: 'This partnership between the University of Greenwich and the Football Foundation is a powerful example of what can be achieved when shared values and vision come together. 'It has been a personal honour to help bring these organisations together in Stephen Lawrence's name – uniting his passion for football with our collective commitment to creating inspiring spaces and life-changing opportunities for young people. Through the Stephen Lawrence Scholarship, we not only honour his legacy, but actively build on it, empowering a new generation.'
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Football education scheme to bear Stephen Lawrence's name
The Football Foundation is to provide financial backing for an education scheme set up in the name of Stephen Lawrence, the teenager murdered in a racist attack in 1993. The English football charity - which is backed by funding from the Football Association (FA), Premier League and government - will provide career development opportunities for the Stephen Lawrence Scholarship. Advertisement The scheme, in conjunction with University of Greenwich, will prioritise black students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, and those who are estranged or care-experienced, looking to complete a leading architecture course starting this September. Lawrence was an avid football fan and an aspiring architect before his murder in south London 32 years ago. The initiative, which was facilitated by Charlton vice-chairman and former Chelsea defender Paul Elliott, hopes to help students gain employment in architecture-related roles in English football, such as designing stadiums. "This partnership is a powerful example of what can be achieved when shared values and vision come together," said Elliott. Advertisement "It has been a personal honour to help bring these organisations together in Stephen Lawrence's name - uniting his passion for football with our collective commitment to creating inspiring spaces and life-changing opportunities for young people. "Through the Stephen Lawrence Scholarship, we not only honour his legacy, but actively build on it, empowering a new generation." Baroness Lawrence, Stephen's mother, added: "The establishment of this scholarship in Stephen's name marks a meaningful continuation of his legacy, providing opportunities for the next generation and reinforcing the vital role that education and sport can play in transforming communities."
BBC News
08-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Football education scheme to bear Stephen Lawrence's name
The Football Foundation is to provide financial backing for an education scheme set up in the name of Stephen Lawrence, the teenager murdered in a racist attack in English football charity - which is backed by funding from the Football Association (FA), Premier League and government - will provide career development opportunities for the Stephen Lawrence scheme, in conjunction with University of Greenwich, will prioritise black students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, and those who are estranged or care-experienced, looking to complete a leading architecture course starting this was an avid football fan and an aspiring architect before his murder in south London 32 years initiative, which was facilitated by Charlton vice-chairman and former Chelsea defender Paul Elliott, hopes to help students gain employment in architecture-related roles in English football, such as designing stadiums."This partnership is a powerful example of what can be achieved when shared values and vision come together," said Elliott."It has been a personal honour to help bring these organisations together in Stephen Lawrence's name - uniting his passion for football with our collective commitment to creating inspiring spaces and life-changing opportunities for young people."Through the Stephen Lawrence Scholarship, we not only honour his legacy, but actively build on it, empowering a new generation."Baroness Lawrence, Stephen's mother, added: "The establishment of this scholarship in Stephen's name marks a meaningful continuation of his legacy, providing opportunities for the next generation and reinforcing the vital role that education and sport can play in transforming communities."
