FOOTBALL facilities across the county are receiving a welcome boost in the form of funding, thanks to Hampshire FA's involvement in the Football Foundation - the UK's largest sports charity.

Made up of the FA Premier League, the FA itself and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, the foundation has a budget of £53 million to invest in promoting education, recreation and community development in a bid to encourage more people of all ages to participate in the national game.

Laurence Jones, chief executive of Hampshire FA, is keen to raise awareness of the foundation and the funds available to grass roots football.

"Many football clubs are unaware of the Football Foundation grants and how they can transform a club," he explained.

"The aim of the foundation is to create a new generation of modern facilities in parks, local leagues and schools so as to give everyone a chance to enjoy grass roots football.

Football Foundation grants form part of a massive support programme for football in Hampshire, working with The FA's National Game Division to lead the development and investment in grass roots football across England.

The FA National Game Division is ploughing in more than £35 million a year - £20 million of which is invested into the Football Foundation - supporting community football, schools and further education colleges, heralding higher standards, better pitches, changing rooms and facilities and encouraging more people to enjoy football for life.

"The foundation has the finances available to provide capital and revenue to create new or improve existing facilities and to strengthen the links between the grassroots game and the community," Laurence added.

"We are keen to make clubs and leagues aware of the help we can provide to fund projects which will improve their facilities and therefore the levels of participation in the game."

Football Foundation grants can be provided in as little as three months from applications being made.

Guidance can be provided by the Hampshire FA and easy-to-complete application forms.

More information is available from the Football Foundation website at www.footballfoundation.org.uk, or ring 0800 0277766.