The Grassroots Facilities Programme Pilot Stage forms part of The Northern Ireland Football Fund, a long-standing Executive commitment to invest in modernising our local footballing infrastructure.
The programme
The Programme aims to support investment in Grassroots Football Facilities across Northern Ireland. While the Department for Communities develops the full design and scope of a long-term programme, a Pilot Stage is being introduced.
This Pilot Stage will enable the Department to explore demand and better understand the needs and challenges at grassroots level.
Importantly, the Pilot Stage gives applicants a direct opportunity to influence the future design of the Programme. The experience, feedback and outcomes from participants will help the Department learn what works best in practice, and shape how the long-term Programme operates.
Who can apply
Applications to the Programme will be made and assessed in two separate streams:
Stream 1
Stream 1 is open to:
-
Grassroots Football Clubs who are the Owner of the Grassroots Football Facility or Grassroots Football Clubs who intend to become the Owner of the Grassroots Football Facility prior to the issue of a Funding Agreement.
and
- The Owner of a Grassroots Football Facility in partnership with a Partner Grassroots Football Club
Stream 2
Stream 2 is open to:
-
A council which is the Owner of a Grassroots Football Facility to which the application relates
and;
- A council which is the Owner of a Grassroots Football Facility to which the application relates applying in partnership with a Partner Grassroots Football Club.
Objectives
The main objectives of the Grassroots Facilities Programme Pilot Stage are to:
- increase the availability of facilities to support current and future participation, especially for women and girls
- improve accessibility of facilities for disabled users
- upgrade and enhance the facility to develop a safe, inclusive and attractive venue
- provide an insight into the diversity of need across the grassroots sector, gaining an understanding of demand and assessing the capacity of applicants to deliver projects effectively
- test key aspects of the Programme design to inform the development of the main Programme
How to apply
All applications must be submitted on the Citizen Space Portal.
Stream 1
Grassroots Football Clubs’ applications must be submitted through the Citizen Space Portal which can be found on the Stream 1 – Grassroots Facilities Programme (Pilot) page.
The closing date for receipt of completed Stream 1 applications is Wednesday 15 April 2026 at 5pm.
Late applications will not be accepted and will be automatically rejected.
Stream 2
Council applications must be submitted through the Citizen Space Portal.
Details for Stream 2 will be emailed directly to the councils.
A link to this portal will be emailed to each of the councils via their Chief Cultural and Leisure Officers Association (CLOA) representative. If you are a council and have not received the email, please contact TNIFF.
FULL DETAILS: The Northern Ireland Football Fund Grassroots Facilities Programme Pilot Stage | Department for Communities