Devon County FA can today announce that their Community Fund is now closed and is no longer able to accept funding applications from clubs in this window.

The new Devon FA Community Fund was developed to support our commitment in our current business strategy to invest £240,000 back into grassroots football in Devon.

Since the fund opened in August, we have received over 60 applications from different clubs across the county for the range of projects available. We have now reached our target of £40,000 to allocate to clubs in this window.

We are now moving into the next phase of the Community Fund process, as we begin confirming our funding to clubs. The first group of successful applicants have now been awarded their grants. We are also working closely with our suppliers for various items to be delivered and then distributed to clubs.

All successful clubs will also receive a Devon FA Community Fund plaque, which will be delivered by members of the Devon County FA Council.

The Community Fund will reopen in early 2023 with clubs able to access more funding opportunities ahead of the end of the 22/23 season. This will be advertised on our website and social media channels; we encourage clubs to keep an eye on our social media for more information.

Devon FA Council member and Community Engagement Director, Rod Hawker, was delighted to see the Fund hit it’s target in eight weeks.

“I realise from personal experience that managing the financial affairs of a football club is fraught with tensions when deciding on spending priorities. We only need to turn on our televisions to hear the news of the increasing energy prices and interest rates which are already impacting on the price of everything we purchase in the world of football.

It therefore gives me great pleasure to inform everyone that the £40,000 set aside by Devon FA as a Community Fund, accessible to clubs wishing to purchase a variety of items that may previously had been set aside as a ’non-urgent expenditure', has now been claimed and allocated to those clubs meeting the criteria. 

Not only do the items purchased go toward protecting the future of individual clubs and grounds, but also add to the quality of the facilities clubs are able to offer their members - the players themselves.

This initiative, previous called the ‘DIY Fund’, is an excellent example of monetary re-cycling, ensuring those contributing into the fund see it being re-invested back to its source - the clubs and players within Devon.

There is no reason not to believe, at the present time, that even more clubs will benefit in the future as and when more Community Fund initiatives are announced. 

My personal congratulations to the successful clubs - all of whom will be presented with a wall ’plaque’ for display on their premises, acknowledging their receipt of the grant.”