This report considers how Football Club charities are already delivering effective employment support, but argues that they are often under-recognised and inconsistently funded. Existing provision could be scaled up in line with government priorities if they were more widely recognised as partners and could access more sustainable funding.

The report explores both the challenges, such as the funding landscape and geographic disparities, and what is working in employment support delivery. Overall, it positions Football Club charities as anchor institutions in their communities, enabling them to successfully engage participants, including the hardest to reach, thanks to the power of the badge and their trusted place in local communities.

ERSA has conducted this research in partnership with EFL in the Community; including the sharing of data, jointly running a working group with a selection of Football Club charities, writing and distributing a survey on employment support provision, and organising in-person visits to select Football Clubs.

The recommendations provided are informed by this research, focusing on the opportunity for commissioners to partner with Football Club charities in order to scale up current delivery and make it more sustainable.