Grants are now available to support investment in grassroots football facilities in Northern Ireland through the new Pilot Programme of the Northern Ireland Football Fund. The pilot, announced by Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, aims to:

Increase the availability of facilities to support current and future participation, especially for women and girls.
Improve the 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.

A total of six projects will be funded, with grants ranging from £500,000 to £1.5 million in two funding streams.

Stream One is open to grassroots clubs that own or plan to own their facility, while Stream Two is open to councils, either applying alone or with a partner club. Councils will be contacted with further information.

Under Stream One, eligible items include full-sized grass and artificial grass pitches, LED floodlighting, club rooms, changing facilities and facilities for disabled players and spectators.

The deadlines for applications are 15 April 2026 (Stream One) and 29 April 2026 (Stream Two). For more information, please visit The Northern Ireland Football Fund Grassroots Facilities Programme Pilot Stage | Department for Communities