CLUBS at Steps 3 and 4 have until the end of the month to apply for the second round of this season's funding from the Trident Community Fund.
So far, 27 Isthmian, Northern Premier and Southern League clubs have received just under £100,000 on grants towards community projects ranging from food banks to programmes to assist those with mental health problems.
Established this season by Entain, sponsors of the Trident Leagues under the Pitching In banner, the fund is allocated quarterly with applications vetted by the individual league's officials before being put forward to the Trident Community Fund for final approval.
The fund is administered jointly by the leagues, with The NLP's editor-in-chief David Emery acting as independent chairman.
The Trident Community Fund can be accessed by any clubs in the Trident leagues with a pre-existing community strategy and which h holds FA Charter Standard d status.
Clubs can apply for up to £5,000 towards non-capital projects that directly benefit their local communities.
Already, the fund is making a real difference to clubs across Steps 3 and 4 of the National League System and is a central pilar of the Pitching In sponsorship.
Northern Premier League chairman Mark Harris said: “Both Entain and the Trident Leagues were very keen to provide a new source of grant funding to clubs that would help them to develop community links.”
Southern League vicechair Anthony Hughes added: “The response from our clubs was overwhelming. So much so that we took the decision to award our full funding allocation in one go.
“However, we are still encouraging our clubs to apply and will consider those applications later this year.”
Isthmian League chief Nick Robinson continued: “The calibre of applications from the clubs has been veery impressive.
“The level of care and detail that has gone into most applications has made it relatively easy for us to assess each one.
“We are already receiving applications for the second funding round and would urge any club that has not already done so to submit its application very soon.”
Clubs that have already made unsuccessful bids are able to re-apply for the second funding wave.
Thereafter, clubs will have to wait 12 months before they become eligible to re-apply.
The clubs who have received funding so far are Newcastle Town, Marine, Workington, Scarborough Athletic, Lincoln United, Pontefract Colliers, Canvey Island, Carshalton Athletic, Hastings United, Merstham, Whitstable Town, Barnstaple Town, Basingstoke Town, Coalville Town, Corby Town, Dorchester Town, Gosport Borough, Hendon, Merthyr Town, Metropolitan Police, Poole Town, Redditch United, St Ives, St Neots Town, Taunton Town, Weston-Super Mare and Winchester City.
