The Entain Foundation and the three Pitching In Trident Leagues (The Isthmian, Northern Premier and Southern Leagues) have offered 19 clubs grants of up to £5,000 each from the latest round of allocations.

From the Trident Community Foundation, the grants cover clubs across England and Wales, with a focus on strengthening community relations.

Some of the projects included are; programmes to enable disadvantaged children to participate in football, community fitness clubs, walking football for older generations, first aid and steward training; youth development schemes and mental health support.

Pitching In Ambassador, Stuart Pearce, commented: “These clubs play a vital role in the community, promoting health and wellbeing. The initiatives being supported by the Trident Community Fund show the true meaning of Pitching In and will further strengthen the bonds between the clubs and their communities. 

“I would like to congratulate those who have been successful – and this is just the start. I look forward to seeing these initiatives come to life and more ideas come in.”

The news follows on from the 27 projects that were funded in 2021-22 during the first season the TCF was in operation. The Entain Foundation provides £150,000 annually to support the TCF each year which is in addition to its overall sponsorship of the Pitching In Trident Leagues, which goes towards the Leagues’ operational costs.

In a joint statement, Pitching In Southern League Vice-Chairman, Anthony Hughes, Pitching In Isthmian League Chairman, Nick Robinson, and Pitching In Northern Premier League Chairman, Mark Harris, said: “We are delighted to receive the continued support of Entain and its Foundation.

“It enables our clubs to play an active role in their communities, making a full contribution to the wellbeing of their local areas. This is a truly groundbreaking partnership and we have an exciting range of projects that we are supporting.”

In December 2020, Entain became a founding partner when it helped to establish The Trident Community Foundation (“TCF”) as part of the Foundation’s Pitching In grassroots sport investment programme. 

The TCF enables clubs to engage in a range of community-based projects and invest in their local areas.

Pitching In spokesperson and Entain’s Head of ESG, Jay Dossetter, concluded: “Our ambition for the Pitching In sponsorship of the Trident Leagues is to make a real difference to community-based and grassroots sport, and the Trident Community Fund is the perfect vehicle to deliver that. The variety and quality of the projects the TCF are funding is inspiring to see.”