The Players Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: ??585,402 (charitable activities expenditure, 2024)
• Total Income: ??1,490,247 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Varies by program (limited-time campaigns process all eligible applications)
• Grant Range: Varies by need and program
• Geographic Focus: England and Wales
• Beneficiary Focus: Current and former professional footballers (Premier League/Football League)

Contact Details

Website: https://theplayersfoundation.org

Email:

• General inquiries: info@theplayersfoundation.org
• Grant applications: applications@theplayersfoundation.org

Phone: 07971 827344 / +44 7583 070884

Postal Address: TPF, PO Box 235, DENTON, M34 0EB

Overview

THE PLAYERS FOUNDATION (formerly the Professional Footballers' Association Charity until 2022) is a registered charity established on 11 January 2013 (Charity No. 1150458, Company No. 08352024). With total assets of approximately ??58.9 million and annual income of ??1.49 million (primarily from investments), the foundation operates independently to support current and former professional footballers and scholars who face financial hardship or personal difficulties. Led by Chairman Brendon Batson OBE and a board of seven trustees (five of whom are former professional footballers), the foundation provides grants to both individuals and organisations, alongside welfare rights advice, financial education, debt management support, and neurodegenerative condition assistance. Since severing ties with the PFA Union in 2022 following a Charity Commission inquiry, the foundation has operated fully independently across England and Wales, using its substantial assets to generate income for charitable purposes.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. Hardship Grants (Rolling)

• Individual grants for beneficiaries in severe financial need
• Covers: debt relief, creditor negotiations, living costs, housing adaptations
• Application method: Rolling basis via application form
• Email to: applications@theplayersfoundation.org

2. Student Living Expense Grant

• Supports former players transitioning to full-time university education
• Covers: rent, utilities, food, basic living costs
• Eligibility: Former professional footballers and scholars entering higher education
• Application period: September 1 - October 31 (annual)
• Grant amount: Not publicly specified

3. Limited-Time Campaign Grants (Periodic)

Recent campaigns have included:

• Family Support Fund - school holiday food provisions, uniforms, educational resources
• Cost-of-Living Grants - household expense support
• Winter Fuel Fund - heating and fuel costs
• These campaigns typically process all eligible applications received during the open period

4. Welfare Rights & Benefits Support

• Free confidential benefits assessments
• Welfare rights hearing assistance
• Maximising state benefit entitlements
• Delivered in partnership with MWS Consult Ltd

5. Grants to Organisations

• The foundation makes grants to organisations as well as individuals
• Priority likely given to organisations supporting their beneficiary class
• Specific programs and amounts not publicly detailed

Priority Areas

• Relief of beneficiaries and dependants in conditions of need, hardship, and distress
• Education advancement and vocational training for post-football careers
• Promotion of good health among beneficiaries
• Support for neurodegenerative conditions (in partnership with DISC Dementia Support)
• Disability support and adaptations
• Financial capability and debt management
• Amateur sport development

What They Don't Fund

Strict Eligibility Requirements:

• Only supports individuals who have played or trained with English Premier League and/or Football League clubs (or successor competitions)
• Does not support amateur footballers outside professional academies/centres of excellence
• Does not support individuals from non-League football outside the Football League structure
• Geographic restriction: England and Wales only

Ready to write a winning application for The Players Foundation?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Get Free Beta Access

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees (7 members, 5 former players)

Brendon Batson OBE - Chairman

• Former Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion player
• Pioneering black footballer
• Appointed to board: May 2012; Chairman: 2021
• Honours: MBE (2001), OBE (2015) for services to football
• Quote: “The Trustees of The Players Foundation ensure that the organisation has effective policies and procedures to meet the needs of the Charity, and these are reviewed regularly.”

Gareth Griffiths - Trustee

• Former professional footballer
• Financial adviser and wealth management professional
• Appointed: May 2012

Jonathan Walters - Trustee

• Over 600 first-team appearances across English leagues
• Republic of Ireland international
• Appointed: June 2022

Harpreet Robertson - Trustee

• 20+ years experience in professional football
• Director of Player Management and Care
• Advocate for diversity in football

Rob Clare - Trustee

• Former professional footballer
• Sports and Community Development Director
• Champion of grassroots sport inclusivity

Additional Trustees:

• Garth Crooks (appointed 2012)
• Martin Prothero (appointed 2022)

Staffing

• Small management team overseeing daily operations
• 3 employees
• No trustees receive remuneration

Regulatory Status

• Regulated by The Charity Commission
• Remains impartial to politics and media agendas
• Accepted a warning in 2022 regarding historical mismanagement findings (allegations of misconduct and breach of trust were dropped)

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Individual Grants:

1. Review Eligibility - Confirm you are a current/former professional footballer or scholar who played/trained with a Premier League or Football League club

1. Complete Application Form - Available at: https://theplayersfoundation.org/application-for-meeting-a-charitable-need/

• 3 months of payslips
• 3 months of bank statements
• Creditor correspondence (if applicable)
• Photo ID (driver's license or passport)
• Proof of address

• Email: applications@theplayersfoundation.org
• Post: TPF, PO Box 235, DENTON, M34 0EB

• Answer every question completely
• Be transparent about financial circumstances
• Explain specific reasons for seeking assistance
• Provide detailed information about financial difficulties, unforeseen circumstances, unserviceable debts, employment status
• Incomplete applications will be delayed

For Campaign Grants:

• Watch for announcements of limited-time campaigns
• Sign up for newsletter at: https://theplayersfoundation.org/home/connect/
• Apply during the specific campaign window
• All eligible applicants who apply typically receive payment

Decision Timeline

• Rolling Grants: Varies based on application volume and completeness
• Campaign Grants: Processed during campaign period; all eligible applicants who applied to recent campaigns received payment
• Grant Usage: Grants must be used within 3 months of receipt
• Testimonial notes application process “took 15 minutes” to complete

Success Rates

Not publicly available. However, for limited-time campaign grants, the foundation states that “all eligible beneficiaries who applied have received payment” for recent Family Support Fund and Cost-of-Living Grants.

Reapplication Policy

Not explicitly stated. However, the rolling nature of hardship grants and annual cycles of programs like the Student Living Expense Grant suggest reapplication is possible.

Application Success Factors

Key Success Factors

1. Eligibility is Paramount

You must have played or trained with an English Premier League or Football League club. This is non-negotiable.

2. Complete Documentation

• Applications with missing documentation will be delayed
• Provide all 3 months of required financial records
• Include all creditor correspondence if applying for debt support

3. Transparency About Need

• Be honest and detailed about your financial circumstances
• Explain the specific hardship you're facing
• Detail unforeseen circumstances that led to your situation
• The foundation emphasizes supporting those in “severe hardship” and “necessitous circumstances”

4. Utilize All Support Services

The foundation offers more than just grants:

• Free welfare rights assessments (via MWS Consult partnership)
• Debt advice and financial education
• Benefits maximization support
• Neurodegenerative condition support

Engaging with these services demonstrates you're taking comprehensive action to address your situation

5. Confidentiality is Guaranteed

• All communication is completely confidential
• The foundation will never disclose details of support without express permission
• Don't let privacy concerns prevent you from applying

Beneficiary Testimonials (Examples of What Works)

“The application was incredibly simple and took 15 minutes.”

“Thank you for the financial support for the new downstairs bathroom - it has made such a difference.” (Example: bathroom adaptation for elderly/disabled beneficiary)

Foundation's Own Guidance

From their mission statement: The foundation aims to “support our beneficiary community to better enable them to thrive” and “empower our beneficial class through educational support and financial assistance in their moment of need.”

This language emphasizes:

• Support during crisis moments (“in their moment of need”)
• Empowerment, not dependency
• Enabling beneficiaries to “thrive” long-term

Campaign-Specific Opportunities

Limited-time campaigns target specific needs identified by the foundation. Recent campaigns have focused on:

• Family support during school holidays
• Cost-of-living pressures
• Winter fuel costs
• Student living expenses

These campaigns suggest the foundation is responsive to emerging needs within their beneficiary community.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Eligibility is everything - You must have played or trained with a Premier League or Football League club. This foundation has the narrowest eligibility criteria of any major UK sports charity.

1. Individual support is the primary focus - While the foundation does make grants to organisations, the vast majority of their work supports individual beneficiaries. If seeking organisational grants, ensure your beneficiary class aligns with theirs.

1. The foundation is responsive to emerging needs - Recent limited-time campaigns (Family Support, Cost-of-Living, Winter Fuel) show they adapt programming to current challenges facing their beneficiary community.

1. Comprehensive support beyond grants - Don't overlook their welfare rights, debt advice, and financial education services. These can be accessed alongside or instead of grant applications.

1. Confidentiality is paramount - The foundation emphasizes discretion, which is crucial for professional footballers who may face public scrutiny. All support is handled confidentially.

1. Complete applications process faster - Testimonials suggest the application itself takes only 15 minutes, but incomplete applications will be delayed. Gather all documentation before starting.

1. Recent rebranding reflects independence - The 2022 split from the PFA Union means this is now a fully independent charity with substantial assets (??58.9m) generating income for grants, not reliant on union funding.

References

• The Charity Commission. (2025). Charity overview: THE PLAYERS FOUNDATION - 1150458. Retrieved from https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1150458&subid=0 []

• The Players Foundation. (2025). About Us. Retrieved from https://theplayersfoundation.org/home/about-tpf/ []

• The Players Foundation. (2025). Governance. Retrieved from https://theplayersfoundation.org/home/governance/ []

• The Players Foundation. (2025). Application for meeting a charitable need. Retrieved from https://theplayersfoundation.org/application-for-meeting-a-charitable-need/ []

• The Players Foundation. (2025). Game Changing Support. Retrieved from https://theplayersfoundation.org/game-changing-support/ []

• The Players Foundation. (2025). Trustees' Annual Report - Year Ending 30th June 2024. Retrieved from https://theplayersfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/The-Players-Foundation-Financial-Statements-fully-signed.pdf []

• League Football Education. The Players Foundation Launch Student Living Expense Grant. Retrieved from https://www.lfe.org.uk/news/the-players-foundation-launch-student-living-expense-grant/ []

• Giving is Great. THE PLAYERS FOUNDATION - Charity Factsheet. Retrieved from https://www.givingisgreat.org.uk/database/charity-factsheet/?regNo=1150458 []

• Financial data from Charity Commission register showing: Total Income ??1,490,247 (2024), Charitable activities expenditure ??585,402 (2024), Investment gains ??3,414,702 (2024)

• Historical context regarding 2022 rebranding from Professional Footballers' Association Charity following Charity Commission inquiry