THE HOME ADVANTAGE PROGRAMME
HOUSEKEEPING
o Only Host will be on camera & be able to speak
o Please use Q&A function to ask any questions & we will provide responses
o Recording of webinar, PDF copy of the slide deck & FAQs will be circulated to all Local Authorities & County FAs
o We will be sharing links to the Home Advantage Programmewebpage too
Football Foundation Yearly Report
INTRODUCTION
o At the Football Foundation, we want to unlock the power of pitches for grassroots football clubs across the country and enable them to take pride and ownership in the place they call home. A place where their time, financial and emotional investment will create secure and sustainable pitches and clubs.
o Home grounds don't just provide a higher chance of success on the pitch, they offer a place for local people to come together through sport and build a community based on a shared sense of belonging.
o Through the Football Foundation's Home Advantage Programme, we plan to support the community asset transfer of football pitches from local authorities to grassroots clubs and organisations across the country.
o Together we can unleash a "Right to Mow".
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CHALLENGES
o Local authorities often lack the resources to maintain their grass pitches to a high standard, which has contributed to two in three grass pitches nationwide currently being rated as ‘poor’ or ‘basic’.
o Despite this, community asset transfers have often been viewed as a complicated and expensive, with the average timeline being two years.
o This has led to an unattractive proposition for grassroots clubs, organisations and local authorities.
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THE HOME ADVANTAGE PROGRAMME
o Through the Home Advantage Programme, the Football Foundation will make community asset transfers a more attractive proposition.
o The programme will support England Football Accredited grassroots football clubs and leagues to take on long-term leases or licence of the sites they play on by providing:
o Guidance and support: Webinars and workshops, as well as legal advice will help to guide clubs through the community asset transfer process.
o Knowledge and expertise: Training and advice from the Grounds Management Association (GMA) for clubs on how to improve the quality of their grass pitches once they have ownership of their sites.
o Investment: Grant funding of up to £250k per club to support both capital and revenue projects that will help organisations to enhance the value of their assets and generate their own income, including site security fencing, storage units, grounds maintenance machinery and catering cabins.
o Football taking control of pitches will enable organisations to cement their place in the community, improve the quality of their grass pitches, generate income to sustain and grow participation, and provide them with long-term security.
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THE HOME ADVANTAGE PACKAGE
Eligibility:
o England Football Accredited Clubs & Leagues
o Local authority sites (2-4 pitches)
o Secured sites or sites that can be secured
o ~£250k Fully Funded Package
o Phase One is a pilot for the programme
o 25 Year minimum Lease/License
o PitchPower Pitch Inspection submitted
Eligible items:
o Site security fencing
o Grounds maintenance machinery
o Six-year revenue for grounds maintenance
o Storage
o Groundskeeper qualifications/training
o Goalposts
o Club Support Service
o Legal fees & insurances
o Income generators (e.g., catering cabin)
o Project Development Costs
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CLUB SUPPORT SERVICE
o As part of the programme a Club Support Service will be provided to clubs from external partner consultants and the Football Foundation to provide the knowledge, guidance and support they will require.
o The Club Support Service will provide:
o Webinars
o Workshops
o Online tools/resources
o 1 to 1 consultant support
o This will be provided by the following partners:
o Club Matters
o FA Club Programme
o Muckle
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SUPPORT SERVICE STRUCTURE
Club Matters
Providing a generic overview of topics tailored to the Home Advantage Programme
• Workshops
• Webinars
• Online tools/resources
Muckle LLP
Providing legal guidance and support specifically focused on community asset transfers and club structure/governance
• Webinars
• Guidance notes
• Fact sheet
• Legal guidance
FA Club Programme
Providing direct 1 to 1 support to clubs on the Home Advantage Programme focused on operational delivery
• Introductory workshop
• 1 to 1 consultancy
• Learning content
8 CLUB
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) PROCESS
o Local Authorities & County FAs will be required to work together on a joint Expression of Interest (EOI).
o Local Authorities should identify suitable sites for the Home Advantage Programme.
o County FAs should identify suitable organisations to take on Community Asset Transfers of these sites and to be included in the Home Advantage Programme.
o EOIs will be scored score based on the key principles of the programme below:
o Local Authority, County FA & Club/League collaboration
o Club Structure
o Community Engagement
o Community Asset Transfer Process
o Site Suitability
The EOI Form will be made available via Microsoft Forms in June 2023
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HOME ADVANTAGE PROGRAMME LAUNCH TIMELINE
EOI phase launched & webinars with LAs & CFAs
May 2023
1 to 1 sessions with LAs & CFAs intending to lodge an EOI
Clubs attend workshops & preapp support provided by CFA and FF DM
EOI Form made available, must be submitted by 31 August 2023
June 2023 2
3
Successful projects selected for Home Advantage pilot
September 2023
October 2023 5
Clubs are put on the FA Club Programme and provided with tailored support
July 2023 6
October 2023 4
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HOME ADVANTAGE PROGRAMME LAUNCH TIMELINE BREAKDOWN
1. EOIphaselaunched& webinarswith LAs& CFAs- May2023
o Webinars to introduce local authorities (LAs) and County FAs (CFAs) to the Home Advantage Programme, where they will be invited to consider applying for the Programme’s Expression of Interest (EOI) phase
2. EOI Formmadeavailable– EarlyJune2023
o Follow up email sent with access to live webpage, FAQs, presentation slides and webinar recording
o The EOI Form will be made available via Microsoft Forms
o Local Authorities will complete the form with assistance from County FA & Club/League
o Guidance & Details on the EOI phase process will be provided
o All LAs & CFAs will be notified when the form goes live
o EOIs must be submitted by 31 August 2023
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HOME ADVANTAGE PROGRAMME LAUNCH TIMELINE BREAKDOWN
3. 1 to 1 sessions with LAs & CFAs intending to lodge an EOI - July 2023
o Meetings with local authorities and County FAs EOI to answer queries and gain understanding of the projects they will be putting forward.
o All LAs & CFAs will be contacted in June 2023 regarding booking in a 1-2-1.
4. Successful projects selected for Home Advantage Pilot – September 2023
o Projects selected from EOIs to be part of Year One Pilot.
o Successful parties notified and 1 to 1 Teams meetings hosted to discuss the next steps for the programme.
o Unsuccessful parties notified via email.
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HOME ADVANTAGE PROGRAMME LAUNCH TIMELINE BREAKDOWN
5.Clubs/League officials attend workshops –
October 2023
o Introductory workshop hosted by Quality Pitches Football Foundation team to introduce organisations to the Home Advantage Programme and the Club Support Service.
o Specific-themed workshops hosted by Club Matters, Muckle, FA Club Programme & VAT Expert.
o Online learning tools/resources from Club Matters provided and tasks set based on these to complete.
6.Clubs are put on the FA Club Programme –
October 2023
o Successful clubs are put on the FA Club Programme and are provided with tailored operational support from the FA Club Consultants and legal support from Muckle LLP.
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NEXT STEPS
o Interested Local Authorities & County FAs should meet to discuss tactics for their approach to EOI
o Local Authorities should identify suitable sites for the Home Advantage Programme.
o County FAs should identify suitable organisations to take on Community Asset Transfers of these sites and to be included in the Home Advantage Programme.
o Football Foundation's Quality Pitches Team will be in touch with all Local Authorities & County FAs to invite interested parties to complete an EOI form
o Undertake a PitchPower Pitch Inspection for the site(s)
o Keep an eye out for when the EOI Form goes live!
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