We are seeking funding to support Upton JFC during difficult financial times. - The club facilitates the building of relationships within the community, and wider Chester area, by bringing together young people to play football; we offer coaching and volunteer opportunities to parents and supporters creating transferable skills and a sense of community, purpose and meaning. - The club supports families who are financially disadvantaged by providing free or discounted places for children and young adults so that they can engage with football, make friends, learn new skills and stay active. - The club has a thriving girls section, with 15 teams and over 150 players; we hope to grow this by 2 teams each year, providing opportunities for more girls. The provision of girls only teams provides greater opportunities and a unique environment for those who do not want to play in a mixed team. - The club supports adults and children alike to live a more active and healthy lifestyle.

What we'll deliver:

• Aim for a maximum fee increase of £10.00 for the 2024/25 season
• Provide free places for 19 financially disadvantaged families
• Provide training and kit for 10 coaches to support 2 new girls teams
• Support 2 new girls teams with players kits (20 players)

Why it's a great idea:

The club provides a wide range of community benefits including: - Building relationships within the community, and wider Chester area through meaningful connections; we have strong links with local schools and community facilities. - Supporting financially disadvantaged families with reduced/no fees and training attire. - Supporting girls in football, with a thriving girls section we ensure that facilities are suitable for the specific needs of female players. - Providing purpose to players in the male demographic which experiences high levels of suicide, and a pathway to adult football via the Open Age teams that the Club provides significant financial support to. - Supporting adults and children alike to live a more active and healthy lifestyle, with weekly training sessions focused on fitness and teamwork. - Providing a safe environment for all players with a strong welfare and discipline focus. - Training over 140 volunteers which provides purpose and confidence.

Steps to get it done:

• Recruiting and training 6 new coaches
• Opportunity for 19 low income families to participate in football
• Keeping fees low for all families
• Providing kit for 20 new players across 2 teams

As a club we constantly strive to improve the provision of football and the quality of the training that we offer. We are often constrained by the availability of winter training pitches and good quality grass summer pitches. The cost of these facilities has increased significantly over the past few years and our commitment to keeping fees as low as possible and assisting families who are financially disadvantaged has impacted our capacity to pay for pitches of consistent quality. This limitation has in turn impacted the club's capacity to take on new players and the majority of our teams currently have waiting lists. The funding in this application will enable us to bid for better quality pitches and provide more consistent training experiences, therefore allowing us to offer places to more children. The club is committed to supporting girls in football and as demand continues to increase we aim to offer at least 20 more players places in the 2024/25 season.