The Northern Ireland Football Fund Grassroots Facilities Programme Pilot Stage
The Grassroots Facilities Programme Pilot Stage forms part of The Northern Ireland Football Fund, a long-standing Executive commitment to invest in modernising our local footballing infrastructure.
The programme
The Programme aims to support investment in Grassroots Football Facilities across Northern Ireland. While the Department for Communities develops the full design and scope of a long-term programme, a Pilot Stage is being introduced.
This Pilot Stage will enable the Department to explore demand and better understand the needs and challenges at grassroots level.
Importantly, the Pilot Stage gives applicants a direct opportunity to influence the future design of the Programme. The experience, feedback and outcomes from participants will help the Department learn what works best in practice, and shape how the long-term Programme operates.
Who can apply
Applications to the Programme will be made and assessed in two separate streams:
Stream 1
Stream 1 is open to:
Grassroots Football Clubs who are the Owner of the Grassroots Football Facility or Grassroots Football Clubs who intend to become the Owner of the Grassroots Football Facility prior to the issue of a Funding Agreement.
and
- The Owner of a Grassroots Football Facility in partnership with a Partner Grassroots Football Club
Stream 2
Stream 2 is open to:
A council which is the Owner of a Grassroots Football Facility to which the application relates
and;
- A council which is the Owner of a Grassroots Football Facility to which the application relates applying in partnership with a Partner Grassroots Football Club.
Objectives
The main objectives of the Grassroots Facilities Programme Pilot Stage are to:
- increase the availability of facilities to support current and future participation, especially for women and girls
- improve 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
How to apply
All applications must be submitted on the Citizen Space Portal.
Stream 1
Grassroots Football Clubs’ applications must be submitted through the Citizen Space Portal which can be found on the Stream 1 - Grassroots Facilities Programme (Pilot) page.
The closing date for receipt of completed Stream 1 applications is Wednesday 15 April 2026 at 5pm.
Late applications will not be accepted and will be automatically rejected.
Stream 2
Council applications must be submitted through the Citizen Space Portal.
Details for Stream 2 will be emailed directly to the councils.
A link to this portal will be emailed to each of the councils via their Chief Cultural and Leisure Officers Association (CLOA) representative. If you are a council and have not received the email, please contact TNIFF.
Resources and support available
Application guidance
The guidance outlines the eligibility requirements, including how facility Owners and Partner Grassroots Football Clubs must work together, and how club activity at the facility should be evidenced. Using the guidance will help you submit a complete and accurate application.
Scoring matrix
Projects will be scored on:
- need
- benefits
- financial viability
- accessibility
- alignment to programme objectives
The Scoring Matrix explains how applications will be assessed and can help applicants ensure they provide complete and relevant information to maximise their chances of success.
The Application Form, Guidance and Scoring Matrix can be found on the page below:
Information sessions
TNIFF held a number of Information sessions for representatives from Grassroots Football Clubs at various locations across the country, as well as two online sessions via Microsoft Teams.
TNIFF have collated a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document from the information sessions which can be viewed on the page below along with the presentation slides.
Questionnaire
If you represent a Grassroots Football Club or if you are the Owner of a Grassroots Football Facility, who is not applying to the Pilot Stage of the Programme, please take the time to answer this short TNIFF Grassroots Facilities Programme questionnaire.
Information gathered through the questionnaire and the Pilot Stage application process will help inform the future design of the Programme.
Contact us
If you have any questions, please contact The Northern Ireland Football Fund.