Real Bedford FC have announced an injection of £75,000 into youth football, £25,000 of which will be available to schools located within Bedford Borough, in order to support educational settings develop football across the town.
As part of the Real Bedford Grant Programme, up to fifty schools will be eligible to apply for up to £500 each in order to purchase football equipment, as the club “commit to building a strong, lasting relationship with the Bedford community”.
The grant programme comes amid rising budget pressures for schools across the country, with Real Bedford co-owner and Chairman, Peter McCormack saying Real Bedford wants to “ensure Bedford develops and supports talented players”.
The grants, which are capped at a maximum of £500 per school, are available on a first-come, first-served basis with no further grants available once the full £25,000 has been allocated.
The remaining £50,000 will go towards Real Bedford’s growing boys and girls teams in the youth setup at the Ledger Stadium.
Budget pressures
“Our aim is to support schools in developing football across the town”, says McCormack, speaking to Bedford Independent.
“We understand the budget pressures schools face, so we want to help them purchase additional football equipment. At the same time, we’re committed to building a strong lasting relationship with the Bedford community.
“While the grants are currently modest, our ambition, just like the Bedford Future Fund, is to grow them over time”, adds McCormack.
“For now, they’re designed to help schools purchase essential football equipment, such as balls and training gear like cones. For schools with a strong interest in football, we’re keen to build deeper relationships”.
Read: Real Bedford owner launches philanthropy initiative to support young people
The Bedford Future Fund has so far provided ten grants to young Bedford-based talent, including young dancer, Lottie McMurdy, karting driver, Valentino Alessi and musician, Izzy Delaney.
Schools can apply for the grants by e-mailing Real Bedford FC directly at hello@realbedford.com.
