A week of celebration to mark the 10th anniversary of the Premier League Charitable Fund

The Premier League Charitable Fund (PLCF) was established in 2010 to distribute funding provided by the Premier League to professional football club community organisations across England and Wales, supporting them in their delivery of local outreach initiatives.

The PLCF has provided assistance and investment to 110 professional football clubs across the Premier League, EFL and National League over the last decade. More than 1.5 million people have benefited from the provision of inclusive programmes, which address important societal issues and improve lives and communities through sports participation, education, tournaments, events, social action and one-to-one support.

As part of the celebratory activity, the PLCF 10-Year Anniversary Awards will take place throughout the week (23-28 November) as clubs recognise the achievements of people who have made a positive difference to others in their community over the past decade.

Palace for Life Foundation Chief Executive Mike Summers said: “The support we receive from the Premier League is absolutely vital in enabling us to help thousands of young south Londoners each year using the power of sport.

“This week is a chance to reflect on everything that we have achieved together over the past ten years, but more importantly, to celebrate and recognize the successes of our staff and participants and their impact on our wider community.”

Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said: “Football clubs play a vital role within their communities, engaging people of all ages to provide positive pathways, as well as supporting mental and physical wellbeing.

“This has been more important than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic, as clubs refocused their efforts to develop significant outreach programmes, including assistance for the most vulnerable members of society.

“The 10-year anniversary of the Premier League Charitable Fund is an opportunity to celebrate the significant impact clubs have made to their local communities.

“Congratulations to all the award winners, who are just some of the many inspiring people who participate and work on club community initiatives.”

Funding through PLCF is one of the ways the Premier League supports communities and other good causes at all levels of the game, inspiring young people to achieve their potential and using the power of football to help create stronger, safer and more inclusive communities where everyone can achieve.

Premier League Charitable Fund Chair Tim Godwin said: “We are delighted to be celebrating the 10th anniversary of the PLCF and congratulations to all the award winners. This is a great opportunity to reflect on the achievements and impact made by individuals and football club community organisations throughout England and Wales.

“The PLCF aims to create and support activities that inspire young people to achieve their potential and positively impact their community. We are proud of the partnerships we have with the Premier League, some of the country’s biggest charities and public services such as the police, which enable us to fund programmes that deliver positive outcomes for young people.”
A selection of PLCF 10-Year Anniversary Award winners’ stories from across Premier League and EFL clubs will be highlighted throughout the week. Visit www.premierleague.com for more information.

Premier League Primary Stars Football Tournament, Molineux Stadium 21 May 2019

More information on the PLCF:

The Premier League Charitable Fund (PLCF) is an independent charity set up in 2010 to distribute funding provided by the Premier League and its partners, supporting 110 professional football clubs to deliver positive and lasting sporting and social outcomes.

 The Premier League-funded community programmes are:

• Premier League Primary Stars – Supports more than 18,000 primary schools across England and Wales with free access to educational resources, events and competitions to inspire children aged 5-11 to learn, be active and develop important life skills. Read more here
• Premier League Kicks – Engages children and young people of all backgrounds and abilities in football, sport and personal development – providing a trusted, positive influence in high-need areas across England and Wales. Read more here
• Premier League Inspires – Uses the appeal of football to help children and young people aged 11-25 to develop the personal skills and positive attitude to succeed in life. Read more here
• Premier League and PFA Community Fund – Enables clubs to respond to local need and provides support to develop projects in partnership with others in new strategic areas.

The PLCF 10-year Anniversary Awards will celebrate people who have been involved with all of these programmes, as well as individuals who have undergone transformational journeys over the last 10 years.

Support during COVID-19

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Premier League funding throughout the football pyramid has enabled clubs to refocus their delivery efforts and develop outreach programmes. Examples of club support include:

• Provision of club facilities for medical use and accommodation for NHS staff.
• Parking provided for NHS staff and use of club vehicles to transport NHS workers, medicine, food and emergency supplies.
• Club medical staff supporting or redeployed to the NHS.
• Distribution of personal protective equipment to local health services.
• Providing support and reaching out to vulnerable and socially isolated fans.
• Provision and distribution of free meals for vulnerable people.
• Widespread donations to foodbanks.
• Donations to charities and emergency funds.
• Utilising players and managers to communicate the latest government advice over digital platforms.
• Provision of digital content and online learning for people of all ages, particularly children and the elderly.
• Development of exercise resources and mental wellbeing videos.