Best Football Community Scheme – Non-Premier League or Championship
beIN SQUAD by beIN Media Group
beIN SQUAD – launched in 2024 – is an initiative with a mission to strengthen grassroots football and promote inclusivity through sponsorship of amateur football clubs across France and Türkiye. By fostering local talent, raising awareness, and providing direct support to amateur teams, beIN SQUAD has become a vital bridge between community football and professional opportunities across these key territories.
In France, beIN SQUAD has sponsored 50 amateur teams across men’s, women’s, and disability categories, engaging 700 registered players. Similarly, in Türkiye, the initiative supports 50 amateur teams selected from over 1,300 applications, representing every region in the country. Key areas of focus in the first year of the initiative include sponsorship, visibility through programming and partnership and collaboration opportunities.
beIN MEDIA GROUP believes in the power and responsibility of broadcasters to inspire the next generation of athletes and fans – regardless of gender, race or background – to find new heroes and to participate in sport. Our beINSPIRED project does this by giving a global platform to events and talent that haven’t, historically, been given the exposure they deserve.
Birmingham City’s First Academy School
Birmingham City Foundation’s innovative Academy School programme was designed to reclaim traditional Blue areas of the city, and support schools by providing them with full-time coaches with proven track records in mentoring and sport leadership.
Balaam Wood Academy sits in Frankley, one of the country’s most deprived areas, and acts as the beating heart of the community. The headteacher is using its affiliation with Birmingham City to change the culture, not just for the pupils, but the wider community.
With two Blues staff members delivering the curriculum full-time, and then utilising the school’s facilities after the end-of-the-day bell has rang to work with local residents, the whole of Frankley is being affected by the Foundation coaches.
The impact of the collaboration and the new community culture has not gone unnoticed. OFSTED made the rare decision to move the school up two places to a Good school, and even more significantly, the Fairer Schools Index marks Balaam Wood Academy as the most improved school in the whole Midlands, and the fifth most in England.
Dons Local Action Group
Dons Local Action Group (DLAG) is a network of volunteers bought together by three long-term AFC Wimbledon fans at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020. We work with local communities in the London boroughs of Merton, Wandsworth, and Kingston to tackle the issues of food, digital and furniture poverty.
Dons Local Action Group is unique in that it is still largely powered by volunteers. In 2024 more than 800 gave their time and dedication to help us meet the ever-increasing needs of our community as vulnerable people not being reached through other channels struggled with the cost-of-living crisis.
Across the year we collected and redistributed just under £939,000 worth of food, supporting more than 2,483 people directly. We also provided regular bulk deliveries to 37 partner agencies such as food banks, shelters for the homeless, refugees, victims of domestic violence and community kitchens. 322 laptops were distributed to students who were otherwise unable to study effectively, and 1,201 items of furniture were supplied to families in need.
Dons Local Action Group has become a vital part of the social support network in the boroughs in which we work, making a real and positive difference to our community.
Grenfell Athletic FC – Fabric of the Community
Grenfell Athletic FC wanted a football shirt with the community at its heart. We created an interactive football shirt that serves as a biographical record for the community it serves.
Grenfell survivors and the community donated their most precious fabrics, which were then incorporated into the design.
With an NFC chip embedded into the badge, it’s the world’s first interactive football shirt. Tapping the badge with your phone links to a site featuring films of the 30 people behind the donations. Here they tell the heartwarming story behind the fabric.
30 unique shirts, 30 unique stories.
Howdens and The FA Game Changer Programme
The Howden’s Game Changer Programme in partnership with The Football Association (via England Football), aims to fund £3 million worth of kitchens by 2026 to England Football Accredited grassroots clubs. With the support of ambassador Chris Kamara, along with tradespeople, volunteers and Howdens Depots we have already transformed over 230 grassroots clubs, providing better kitchen facilities to make matchday experiences more enjoyable and increase revenue opportunities.
PAFOS FC – One Town, One Team
Pafos FC, has rapidly become a cornerstone of the Paphos community in Cyprus. Beyond its on-field ambitions, the club is deeply committed to fostering strong ties with local residents, businesses, and organizations, reflecting its dedication to community development and support.
As one of the most recognizable brands in the region, Pafos FC does not merely exist as a football club but as a unifying force that strengthens local identity and brings people together.
Pafos FC has brought a sense of pride to a community that had zero to none reasons of being proud of its heritage. A community of people who always felt underappreciated and underprivileged in comparison to people from the other cities in the country. Pafos FC’s rise has united the city, fostering passion, loyalty, and a newfound football culture. In parallel, the local economy was able to boom as the club created an ecosystem of partnerships and relationships with various stakeholders of the region.
Through comprehensive and deeply impactful community schemes, Pafos FC has proven its unwavering commitment to the people, businesses, and charitable organizations of Paphos.
