Football for Nature Fund

Aim

Invest in a Winning Future: Secure Playable Pitches, Enhance Communities through Nature & Habitat Development and Champion Sustainability

Birmingham County FA

Birmingham County Football Association (BCFA) are one of the largest regional governing bodies in the English Football Associations network of 49 organisations. Unlike the name suggests BCFA covers the 3 main cities in the West Midlands, namely Birmingham, Wolverhampton & Coventry but their reach extends into the Black Country, Walsall, Warwickshire, Tamworth and into East Staffordshire.

BCFA are a not-for-profit membership organisation with 1000 football clubs, 7 of which are professional, but the majority fall under what is more commonly known as “Grassroots”. This number of clubs equates to 5900 teams, 1400 qualified match officials, 25,000 volunteers & coaches and upwards of 100,000 regular players participating in all formats of the game. Within the region over 48,000 affiliated games happen each season.

The Economic Report for Football published by the Football Association in October 2024 estimated that for the BCFA region, through social & economic value, grassroots football generated c.£745 million to the local economy each season.

On June 8th, 2021, BCFA proudly launched Save Today, Play Tomorrow the first of its kind sustainability programme in the UK that looks to empower & engender grassroots football to support the ambitious goal of creating a decarbonised game across the region.

As a local governing body, BCFA recognise the need to act now to ensure the beautiful game significantly reduces its environmental impact, whilst helping to educate those involved in football at all levels to make informed decisions that will shape how much future generations will be able to enjoy and sustain the game in the long term. While grassroots football is not the cause of climate change; most clubs are SME sized, often loss-making, volunteer led enterprises with a microscale carbon footprint, it offers huge potential for engagement, as the scale on which people share a close affinity with their community club is perhaps unparalleled in any other sport, activity or business.

Football for Nature

• The Beautiful Game Threatened by Climate Change: Birmingham County FA, a leader in sustainable football with their award-winning Save Today, Play Tomorrow programme, is taking a bold step. As signatories to the Sport for Nature Framework, we recognise that decarbonisation alone isn't enough. We need nature-based solutions to combat extreme weather and protect local pitches and green spaces – the lifeblood of grassroots football.
• Inspired by Success: Following the example of golf course conservation efforts (ref: https://community.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/b/actionfornature/posts/working-with-golf-courses-to-create-greenspaces-for-nature), Birmingham County FA's 2025 focus is becoming "Nature Positive." This means managing our environmental impact and creating a net benefit for the planet.
• Protecting Your Community's Future: Grassroots football is vital to the West Midlands, generating £745 million annually and fostering social connections. However, climate change disrupts this vital ecosystem. Last season alone, over 7,500 games were lost due to unplayable pitches. This trend threatens local communities and the very heart of these areas – the football clubs.
• Nature: The Winning Solution: Nature-based solutions can provide playable pitches year-round, benefiting both the environment and the game. This translates to a healthier planet, improved public health through continued physical activity, and a thriving local economy. Biodiversity Net Gain opportunities can even generate additional revenue for clubs.
• Local Expertise, Global Impact: Our data and strong club relationships identify priority venues for nature-based solutions. Partnering with the Birmingham & Black Country Wildlife Trust, we ensure projects achieve dual benefits: supporting local nature recovery plans and educating the football community about environmental importance.
• A Unique Opportunity for Investment: Redirect your donations towards tangible local impact. We're seeking to raise £100,000 through the Football for Nature Fund. This is a chance to go beyond national projects and directly support your community while aligning with your commitment to environmental sustainability.

Call to Action:

Join Birmingham County FA in securing a winning future for grassroots football. Leverage your network to connect us with potential investors seeking a cause with social, environmental, and economic impact. Additionally, your legal expertise in environmental sustainability can be invaluable in bringing this initiative to life.

This project closed unsuccessfully on 23rd April 2025