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• More than 1,100 multisport grassroots sport projects across the UK to benefit from 拢93 million towards new pitches, changing rooms, goalposts and floodlights
• Funding part of 拢400 million government investment in grassroots facilities, including multisport pitches, tennis courts and swimming pools
• Investment supports government ambition to get 3.5 million more adults and children active by 2030

Research shows exercising more was the UK鈥檚 most common New Year鈥檚 resolution for 2024*, and the Government is helping hundreds of thousands more people across the UK keep their resolution and get active by delivering high-quality grassroots sport facilities.

From Belfast to Bracknell, over 1,100 projects are receiving funding that will go towards facilities such as changing rooms, pavilions, state of the art 3G artificial grass pitches, goalposts and floodlights, improving access to sport and physical activity for local communities.

Sports Minister Stuart Andrew announced the funding during a visit to Oaklands Park in Chichester, where over 拢700,000 from the Government, The Premier League and The FA鈥檚 Football Foundation will help Chichester City Youth FC (CCYFC) use the expanded capacity on their new pitch to support even more teams.

With the new funding, Chichester City FC and CCYFC will also build on their strong women and girls offering by increasing the number of teams within five years of completion of the new pitch.听

Sports Minister Stuart Andrew said:

Sport and physical activity are vital to our mental health and wellbeing, and each year thousands of people make a New Year鈥檚 resolution to exercise more.

We know one of the major barriers to getting active is having access to high-quality sports facilities, which is why we are investing in 1,100 more projects, backed by 拢93 million.

This government has delivered thousands of new projects across the UK with the aim of getting over 120,000 more people to get active, helping us to make big strides towards meeting our ambitious target of 3.5 million more people active by 2030.

As part of an 拢81 million investment, 900 projects in England are already benefiting from funding from the Government and its Football Foundation partners the Premier League and The FA, with many more to follow.听

This will deliver over 60 artificial grass pitch projects, over 130 grass pitch projects and 35 changing facility projects, as well as floodlights and goalposts.

Local communities across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will also benefit with an unprecedented 拢12 million being invested by the UK Government in 2023/24, delivered in partnership with the Scottish FA, the Irish FA, Cymru Football Foundation and Football Association of Wales. A further 拢9 million is also being committed across the home nations for projects to be delivered through 2024/25.听

In Scotland, the funding will deliver over 20 artificial grass pitch projects and four grass pitch projects. In Wales eight projects will get new changing rooms, while 12 projects in Northern Ireland are set to benefit from new floodlighting.听

Some of the beneficiaries from this year鈥檚 round of investment include:

• Wirral Borough Council has received 拢1.1 million for a new 3G artificial grass pitch, changing rooms and grass pitch works at the Bidston Sports and Activity Centre in Birkenhead.
• Norfolk County Football Association has received over 拢670,000 for a brand new 7-a-side floodlit 3G artificial grass pitch.
• Poppleton United FC in York has received almost 拢20,000 for a new tractor and mower.听
• Portland United Youth FC in Dorset has received over 拢10,000 for new portable floodlights.
• Dunfermline Athletic FC will receive 拢325,000 for a brand new artificial grass pitch.
• Cyngor Gwynedd in Wales has received 拢300,000 for a new artificial grass pitch at Arfon Leisure Centre.
• Fivemiletown United Football Club in Northern Ireland has received 拢400,000 for a new artificial grass pitch with floodlights.

A full list of the facilities to benefit was published today.

The Government鈥檚 Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme is investing in areas that are most in need of new or renovated facilities, with at least 50 per cent of the investment to be spent in the most deprived local authorities with high levels of inactivity. Through the programme more high quality facilities are being made available for people to play football, rugby and other grassroots sports.

Since 2021, the Government, along with its partners, have helped deliver new facilities or improvements at almost 2,400 sites across the UK aiming to get at least 120,000 more people active, through the 拢325 million programme. This investment is supporting grassroots clubs up and down the country, including women鈥檚 and girls teams.

It also follows the Government and The FA announcing an additional 拢30 million to build 30 new state of the art 3G pitches and facilities to prioritise women鈥檚 and girls鈥� teams across England, following the Lionesses success at UEFA EURO 2022, and the FIFA Women鈥檚 World Cup 2023.听

Robert Sullivan, CEO, Football Foundation said:

This year, the Football Foundation will provide more great places to play than ever before.听

This 3G stadia pitch is just one of many sports facilities across the county that will have a transformative impact on physical and mental wellbeing, bringing people together and strengthening the local community here in Chichester from the roots up.

Thanks to investment from the Premier League, The FA and Government we will deliver better pitches ensuring healthier lives and stronger communities.

The Government recently published its new sport strategy to get 2.5 million more adults and one million more young people meeting the Chief Medical Officer鈥檚 guidance of 150 minutes of exercise per week for adults, and 60 minutes per day for young people by 2030.听

To help reach this target, the funding announced today is part of the Government鈥檚 unprecedented investment of over 拢400 million in grassroots facilities, including park tennis courts and .

Notes to editors:

• Some of the projects in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be funded over a two year period. In 2023/24, 拢12 million has been allocated, while in 2024/25 a further 拢9 million has been allocated, with more to come.听
• Details on how to get facilities investment in your area can be found at for England, the for Scotland, the for Wales, and for Northern Ireland.
• As part of its activity drive, the Government recently joined forces with former sports stars, health professionals and fitness experts, to establish the National Physical Activity Taskforce to help an additional 3.5 million adults and children get physically active by 2030 as part of a new sport strategy.听
• Following their success at last year鈥檚 World Cup, a brand new 拢30 million Lionesses Futures Fund to be invested by 2025 - supported by 拢25m from the Government and 拢5m from the FA.听
• In 2023/24, the Football Association is investing 拢18.6m through the Football Foundation, and the Premier League is investing 拢17.6m.
• * conducted a survey of 2,000 British Adults which are UK nationally representative (on the basis of age/gender/region). The survey was commissioned by Forbes Advisor and conducted by market research company Opinium between 14 November 2023 - 17 November 2023.