Cymru Football Foundation Limited

Charity Number: 1057856

Annual Expenditure: £8.2M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £8.2 million (2023) / £6 million (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Decision panels held during and after application window (specific timelines not published)
  • Grant Range: £25,000 - £500,000
  • Geographic Focus: Wales (Cymru)

Contact Details

Website: www.cff.cymru / faw.cymru/cff

Email: info@cff.cymru

Phone: 01633 282911

Pre-Application Support: Available - applicants are encouraged to contact info@cff.cymru to discuss potential applications before submitting

Overview

The Cymru Football Foundation Limited (Charity Number 1057856) was established in 2022 as the charitable arm of the Football Association of Wales. With annual expenditure of £8.2 million (2023) and recent annual investments of £6 million (2024), the Foundation has invested over £20 million into Welsh football facilities since October 2022. Their mission is to support the development of football facilities across Wales through grants, expertise, and guidance, creating inspirational fit-for-future facilities that improve and grow Welsh football on and off the pitch. The Foundation targets investment toward deprived communities (£8.5 million invested to date) and multi-sport venues (£9 million), with an ambitious target to invest at least £10 million annually. The Foundation has supported 41 new or upgraded artificial pitches, 19 new grass pitches, and 34 clubhouses and changing rooms across Wales.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Fit-For-Future Facilities Programme (OPEN)

  • £25,000 - £500,000 grants
  • Supports: New or upgraded grass pitches, artificial grass pitches (3G/4G), LED floodlights for AGPs, changing rooms, clubhouses
  • Funded by UK Government (DCMS), FAW, and English Premier League
  • Application method: Expression of Interest form via online portal
  • Rolling application windows with fixed closing dates

Fit-For-Future Equipment Fund (Periodically open)

  • Up to £25,000 grants
  • Covers: Goalposts, pitch maintenance equipment, storage containers
  • Requires only 10% partner funding from applicant clubs
  • Application method: Online when fund reopens

Sustainability Fund (Currently closed)

  • Contact foundation to discuss future applications

Environments For Her Initiative

  • £1 million commitment to make off-field facilities more inclusive for women and girls

Priority Areas

The Foundation prioritizes projects that:

  • Enable stronger and sustainable community-focused clubs - supporting long-term club viability and community engagement
  • Grow opportunities and improve experiences for women and girls - doubling female participation through inspirational facilities
  • Support wider community needs and tackle inequalities - focusing on deprived communities (£8.5m invested)
  • Create multi-sport venues - facilities serving broader community needs (£9m invested)
  • Align with FAW strategies including Clwb Cymru, PAWB (Everyone's Game), and Environments: For Her

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly listed. The Foundation focuses exclusively on football-related capital projects (facilities and equipment) rather than:

  • Revenue costs or operational expenses
  • Projects outside Wales
  • Non-football facilities (though multi-sport venues incorporating football are supported)

For clarification on eligibility, contact info@cff.cymru before applying.

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Kelly Davies - Chair

Former Welsh international footballer (Arsenal, Liverpool), UK & European Senior Director at Ashoka. Davies brings experience from elite women's football and social entrepreneurship.

Will Lloyd Williams - Vice-Chair

Former butcher and 50+ year football administrator. Chair of Machynlleth Hurricanes, Central Wales FA, and Ardal Tier 3 Northern Leagues; Vice-President of FAW. Represents grassroots football perspective.

Annaliese Lewis - Trustee

Investment team member at Sport Wales, FAW Council member, active player and coach. Brings funding expertise and grassroots insight.

Richard Williams - Trustee

CEO of Community Foundation Wales, former journalist and editor. Provides strategic grantmaking expertise.

Hannah Buckley - Trustee

Senior Facilities Manager in Barclays Women's Super League with 20+ years football industry experience. Has secured over £100 million in football facility investments.

Helen White - Trustee

20+ years non-executive director experience including Chair of Wales Regulatory Board and Careers Wales.

Lee James - Trustee

FAW Council member and Referees Officer for Ardal Southern Leagues. Brings match official perspective.

Wyn Lewis - Trustee

FAW Council member since 2021, Finance Manager at Farmers Union of Wales for 28 years.

Senior Staff

Aled Lewis - Foundation Director

Quote: “We are extremely pleased and proud to have supported so many projects in such a short space of time that will deliver such an impact within our communities.”

On reaching £20m milestone: "We're extremely delighted to have supported the development of so many facilities across Cymru and reached an important milestone of £20m in direct investment into football facilities. These improved facilities are delivering significant benefit to our communities and ensure that people have high-quality, safe and accessible spaces that inspire them to be active."

Allan James - Facility Investment Manager (North & Central)

Laura Hennessy - Head of Corporate Services

Mark Hughes - Head of Technical

Sam Law - Communications Manager

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

  • Contact info@cff.cymru to discuss your project
  • Review CFF guidance documents on website
  • Assess alignment with CFF impact priorities
  • Complete online EOI form at faw.cymru/cff/funding/
  • Submit supporting evidence demonstrating community need and project impact
  • Include evidence of legal title/use of land for at least 10 years (or letter showing freeholder will enter minimum 10-year secure agreement)
  • Ensure electronic documents are accessible
  • Only projects passing this stage proceed to assessment
  • Independent decision-making panels convene during and after application window
  • Feasibility study may be commissioned for supported applications (not required for grass pitch projects)

Decision Timeline

Specific timeframes are not published. The Foundation operates decision panels during and after application windows. Applicants are advised to “ensure contractor timelines are realistic in relation to CFF grant decision periods,” suggesting variable timelines depending on project complexity.

Success Rates

Success rate statistics are not publicly available. The Foundation has awarded grants to 32 projects through a recent Fit-for-Future Facility Programme round (£8.8 million total), but total application numbers are not disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is published. Contact info@cff.cymru for guidance on reapplying after an unsuccessful application.

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from the Foundation

DO:

  • Read CFF's guidance documents thoroughly before starting your application
  • Be clear about your project's impact - vague outcome statements weaken applications
  • Carefully consider your supporting evidence - described as “an integral piece of successful applications”
  • Align your project with one of CFF's impact priorities (women and girls, community needs, tackling inequalities)
  • Be considerate of FAW strategies including Clwb Cymru, PAWB, and Environments: For Her
  • Ensure contractor timelines are realistic in relation to CFF grant decision periods
  • Develop thorough post-project management plans - demonstrate sustainability beyond grant period
  • Set realistic budgets - base designs around simple, functional, easy-to-manage facilities
  • Apply early - early applications are actively encouraged
  • Ensure documents are electronically accessible

DON'T:

  • Rush the application process
  • Submit incomplete applications
  • Make vague outcome statements
  • Work on the application alone - engage your community and stakeholders

Recent Funded Projects (Examples)

  • Bangor City Stadium: £350,000 for UK's first 4G playing surface (environmentally sustainable, non-infill design)
  • Denbigh Town FC: £300,000 for new clubhouse and community facility
  • Trefelin BGC, Neath: £360,000 for small-sided AGP (club saw 10% junior player growth including 11% increase in female players post-investment)
  • CPD Clydach FC: £300,000 for new changing facilities
  • Mumbles Community Association: Full-size 3G pitch (resulted in 10% junior player growth, 11% increase in female players within 12 months)
  • Ysgol St Christopher's: Multi-sport facility at Wales' largest special school (partnership with Johan Cruyff Foundation, Wrexham County Borough Council, Sport Wales)
  • Greenhill School, Tenby: New 3G pitch development
  • Caernarfon: £1.2 million for new 3G facility

Key Terminology and Language

The Foundation uses specific language that applicants should mirror:

  • “Fit-for-future facilities” (their signature phrase)
  • “Inspirational facilities”
  • “Community-focused” and “sustainable clubs”
  • “Tackling inequalities”
  • “Environments For Her” (when discussing women's football)
  • “PAWB” (Everyone's Game - inclusivity strategy)

Strategic Alignment Tips

  • Women and girls football: Demonstrate how your project will increase female participation or improve experiences through dedicated facilities or inclusive design
  • Deprived communities: If located in a deprived area, emphasize community need and social impact
  • Multi-sport potential: If facility can serve multiple sports/user groups, highlight broader community benefit
  • Sustainability: Include detailed management plans showing long-term viability
  • Evidence-based need: Use data (participation numbers, waiting lists, facility condition reports) to demonstrate need

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Early engagement is critical - Contact the Foundation before applying to discuss project fit and receive pre-application guidance; early applications are actively encouraged
  • Evidence quality matters more than quantity - Supporting evidence is described as “integral” to success; use data, community needs assessments, and post-project management plans
  • Strategic alignment is essential - Projects must clearly align with at least one CFF impact priority (women and girls, community needs, tackling inequalities); reference FAW strategies by name
  • Keep it functional and realistic - The Foundation favors simple, functional, easy-to-manage facilities with realistic budgets over complex designs
  • Demonstrate long-term impact - Include robust post-project management plans showing how facilities will be sustained and maximize community benefit beyond the grant period
  • Women's football is a clear priority - Projects supporting female participation or creating “Environments For Her” align with £1 million dedicated funding stream
  • 10-year security required - Ensure you can evidence legal title or secure agreement for at least 10 years before applying (this is non-negotiable)
  • Partner funding expectations - Equipment Fund requires 10% match funding; Facilities Fund match requirements not published (inquire early)

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