Women’s Pyramid
Find out how FSIF funding can help clubs playing in the Women’s Pyramid.
The FSIF provides money for clubs in the Women's Pyramid who want to improve their facilities for players, officials and spectators.
Women’s Pyramid
The eligibility of projects and grant limits available are dependent on the tier of the Women's Pyramid your club plays at. If you do not know which tier your club fits into, contact us.
Grants and eligibility
Grant limits
Grant limits for Women's Pyramid clubs (applies to any five year period)
| Clubs in the Women's Pyramid | Maximum cumulative grant value* | Maximum percentage grant |
| Tier 1 – Grade A (BFAWSL) Tier 2 – Grade B (FA Women's Championship) |
£150,000 | 70% |
| Tier 3 – Grade C (FA Women’s National League - Premier) Tier 4 - Grade D (FA Women's National League Division 1) |
£100,000 | 70% |
| Tier 5 – Grade E (Women's Regional League Premier) | £20,000 (but up to £50,000 for applications including works to changing rooms) | 70% |
National Ground Grading Criteria
Where women’s clubs share a ground with men's clubs then the maximum grant allowance/percentage will relate to the highest Ground Grading criteria required for that ground. However, women’s clubs are also eligible for grants of up to £20,000, in any five year period for work relating to women's football, such as changing the shower layout and providing women’s toilets etc.
Whilst we will not automatically provide funding for work you need to undertake to meet the requirements of The FA National Ground Grading Criteria, the table below indicates the types of project that are eligible under FSIF policy. Details of The FA National Ground Grading Criteria can be found below.
Safety at Sports Guide
We have included safety categories based on the ‘Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds’. Where appropriate, the guide provides detailed guidance to help you assess the safe capacity of a sports ground. The guide can be found below.
FSIF eligibility criteria
You are eligible to apply for grant aid to meet the membership conditions of your current league. If you are promoted, you are eligible to apply for grant aid to meet the membership conditions of the new league, but only after your promotion has been confirmed by the league.
We base grants on the league you were in at the time you submitted your application, and our Board retains full discretion regarding what they consider appropriate.
| Project | Tiers 1 & 2 | Tiers 3 & 4 | Tier 5 |
| New covered seating | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| New open seating | No | No | No |
| New open or covered safe terracing | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Upgrading open safe terracing | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Convert terrace to open seating | No | No | No |
| Convert terrace to covered seating | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Convert terrace to covered seating | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| First aid rooms | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Secure boundary fencing and gates | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pitch perimeter rails, barriers + infil1 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Players and officials safe walkway | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pitch perimeter hardstanding | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| PA systems (initial provision only) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CCTV (initial provision only) | No | No | No |
| Computerised turnstiles | No | No | No |
| Control rooms | No | No | No |
| Mains service connections | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Crush barrier installations | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| New floodlights and upgrades2 | Yes | Yes | No |
| Emergency lighting (initial provision only) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Spectator toilets | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Press seating | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Turnstile and pay kiosks | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Changing rooms | Yes | Yes | Yes3 |
| Pitch drainage | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pitch irrigation4 | Yes | Yes | Yes5 |
| Car and coach parking9 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Access roads9 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Stewards radios (initial provision) | No | No | No |
| Hospitality areas (incl. tea bars)6 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Artificial pitches | No | No | No |
| Viewing for disabled spectators | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| All facilities for disabled spectators | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dug-outs/technical areas | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pitch maintenance equipment7 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ball stop netting8 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
- 1Perimeter barrier infill panels will only be considered eligible for Clubs at Step 4 or above
- 2If you need to provide floodlights to meet the membership conditions of your league, you are eligible to apply for a grant towards installing the floodlights or towards improving the floodlights if this is necessary because your club has been promoted. Replacement of bulbs and other maintenance operations are not eligible for support but the replacement of very old, defective systems would be considered. Second-hand systems might be considered subject to independent structural and electrical reports. Mobile floodlights are not eligible.
- 3Ceiling grant for changing rooms is £50,000
- 4Up to £20,000
- 5Maximum 50%
- 6Permanent buildings only with planning permission. Players' and directors' exclusive bars are not eligible.
- 7Eligible provided there is safe storage provision on site, insurance for theft, user instruction (including health and safety) and demonstrating sufficient, reliable voluntary labour to undertake the work.
- 8Eligible subject to appropriate justification (e.g. close proximity to a busy road, railway line or causing a nuisance to neighbours).
- 9Car and coach parking/access roads will only be considered eligible if the works are required to improve access to the ground for disabled spectators, and/or to satisfy statutory requirements imposed by the local planning authority/Highways Authority, and/or to resolve a specific issue relating to health and safety.
Ineligible work
- Director's areas
- Land/site purchase
- Routine maintenance i.e. decorations, repairs, annual operations such as boiler servicing, pitch decompaction etc.
- Artificial pitches
- Goalposts
- Television gantries
Pre-application advice
Financial information
All clubs are required to submit accounts for the previous three years and a copy of the club’s most recent bank statement.
A five year income and expenditure forecast should be provided with the application, if:
- the application is for works to develop the club's hospitality facilities or for clubhouse improvement work which would either:
- provide substantial changes to the operational practise when generating additional revenue
- the development could have a material effect on liabilities such as utilities, business rates, staff costs, maintenance etc.
- the application is to support the club moving to a new site
- the grant request is over £100,000
- some or all partnership funding is in the form of a loan, whereby the club will be required to demonstrate its ability to meet the repayment terms.
Please note the above is only applicable for funding requests over £20,000.
Security of tenure
To be eligible for funding, your club must be a member of the Women's Pyramid and either own the freehold of the site you want to develop or have a lease with at least 10 years left before it runs out.
Supporting documents
At the point of application all applicants are required to submit the following documents:
- Governing documents
- Past three years accounts
- Copy of the club’s most recent bank statement
- Evidence of partnership funding
Ready to apply?
Following pre-application advice, if your club is eligible to apply for grant aid you can now submit an application.
The FSIF Officers are on hand to support clubs through the application process and will offer step by step advice on planning the project and ensuring the club provides the requisite information required for the specific type of project you are applying for.