Save Today, Play Tomorrow Launches Football for Nature Fund to Secure Grassroots Football’s Future

Save Today, Play Tomorrow is proud to announce the launch of the Football for Nature Fund, a new initiative designed to secure the future of grassroots football through nature-based solutions. The fund focuses on three key objectives: ensuring playable pitches, enhancing communities through habitat development, and championing sustainability.

As part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability, Save Today, Play Tomorrow is taking action to address climate change and ensure that football can continue to thrive for future generations. As signatories of the Sport for Nature Framework, we recognise that decarbonisation alone isn't enough. Nature-based solutions are crucial for protecting local pitches and mitigating the effects of extreme weather, safeguarding the spaces where communities connect, play, and grow.

Grassroots football generates £15.9 billion annually for the UK economy. However, climate change is already disrupting the sport, with an estimated 120,000 games being postponed each season due to unplayable pitches. This trend is expected to worsen if no action is taken.

In 2025, Save Today, Play Tomorrow aims to become "Nature Positive" by managing its environmental impact in ways that benefit the planet and ensure football’s continued success despite climate challenges.

How Will We Achieve This?

We plan to tackle these challenges through two strategies:

• Employ Nature-Based Solutions: These solutions offer the best way to protect football pitches from extreme weather conditions. They reduce flooding, prevent waterlogging, provide shade, and improve air quality. Beyond the protection of football, these solutions support public health, sustain local economies, and create green spaces that foster community engagement. Additionally, biodiversity net gain opportunities can generate extra revenue for clubs, supporting their long-term sustainability.

  
  

• Partnering with Local Expertise for Global Impact: In collaboration with environmental experts like The Wildlife Trust, Save Today, Play Tomorrow ensures each project supports local nature recovery plans. These partnerships will also educate the football community on the importance of environmental stewardship, focusing on local solutions that create tangible, lasting results for clubs and their communities.

  
  

Richard Lindsay, Sustainability and Insights Manager at Save Today, Play Tomorrow emphasises:

“The new Football for Nature Fund is about more than just pitches; it's about securing the joy of the game for everyone, now and in the future. By investing in nature, we're investing in our communities. Every donation, big or small, helps us protect those vital green spaces where we play, connect, and grow."

How Can You Get Involved?

The Football for Nature Fund provides a unique opportunity for supporters to directly impact local football clubs and their communities. By contributing, you’ll help protect football pitches, promote sustainability, and support resilience-building projects.

1. Donate: Visit Save Today, Play Tomorrow’s donations page to contribute. Every donation helps fund nature-based projects for grassroots football.

2. Join WeAre8: Use your advertising funds on WeAre8 to support local projects. Encourage teammates, friends, and family to join, helping to build a resilient and sustainable future for grassroots football.

   
   

By working together through nature-based solutions and community-driven action, we can tackle climate change and ensure grassroots football remains a vital part of UK communities for generations to come.

For more information or to donate, please visit www.savetodayplaytomorrow.com