Member Article

Buildbase launches bursary for non-league football clubs

Football teams entering The Buildbase FA Trophy and Vase competitions could see their club facilities transformed through a £200,000 Buildbase renovation initiative.

The Buildbase Club Renovation Programme will help renovate the chosen non-league clubs in local communities across England and Wales.

The product bursary will run over two years, with £50,000 in building and electrical products as well as hire equipment available for two clubs in 2017. A further £100,000 will be on offer to two clubs in 2018.

Teams taking part in the two premier non-league competitions, The Buildbase FA Trophy and The Buildbase FA Vase, can win materials to help much-needed building and renovation work for their clubs by registering at www.buildbase.co.uk/buildbase-renovation-application

Local Buildbase branches across England and Wales will be supporting their clubs by providing information and advice about the building products required for a renovation project.

Clubs taking part will be calling on fans to support their application through the Buildbase website and social media over the next two months. In February the six shortlisted finalists, consisting of three Buildbase FA Trophy and three Buildbase FA Vase clubs, will be invited to pitch their project to a panel of judges from The FA and Buildbase at a “Dragon’s Den”-style event at Wembley.

Two winners will be announced at The Buildbase FA Trophy and Vase semi finals on 11 March 2017. They will receive an award presentation for their building products on finals day on 21 May 2017, ready to start renovations over the summer.

Mark Bullingham, FA Commercial Director said: “This scheme could be a real boon for clubs wanting to expand, attract more supporters and become a real hub of their local community. It will be both the non-league community and local fans that become the beneficiaries too, which can only be a good thing.”

Kate Tinsley, CEO of Buildbase said: “Our branch teams are already an integral part of their local communities so it’s brilliant to be able to extend their support with an investment that will renovate football club facilities for the benefit of all. All clubs taking part in the competitions can apply and in partnership with The FA we will select the most worthy causes.”

Buildbase announced its two-year title sponsorship of The FA Trophy and FA Vase in August last year.

The Buildbase FA Trophy is open to clubs playing in Steps 1-4 of The FA National League System the four tiers immediately below League Two of the English Football League. The current season has 276 clubs contesting for top honors.

The Buildbase FA Vase is open to Clubs at Step 5-7 of The FA National League System and the 2016/17 season features 592 Clubs.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Buildbase .