Bloomsbury Football Foundation receives £62,500 grant

Bloomsbury Football Foundation, a charity dedicated to transforming the lives of disadvantaged young Londoners through football coaching, has been awarded a £62,500 grant from The Standard’s Dispossessed Fund. This funding will support the foundation's work across nine London boroughs, where it currently reaches more than 6,500 young people each week.

Origins and Ambitions

The foundation began in 2018 with just four children in Camden Town. Charlie Hyman, founder and CEO of Bloomsbury Football Foundation, stated that the charity has experienced significant growth, with a compound annual revenue growth rate of 43 per cent in the three years to June 2025. Hyman has ambitious plans to scale the organisation, aiming to reach 40,000 children across five cities by 2030, starting with Leicester.

Hyman highlighted the transformative potential of football, noting that it improves mental and physical wellbeing, builds community cohesion, reduces crime, and fosters resilience, teamwork, and confidence. He believes the foundation's scale of ambition sets it apart, with a goal to make a significant impact on social mobility using football as the primary engagement tool.

Impact on Young Lives

The foundation's work is exemplified by the experiences of two young participants, Alexia and Ali. Alexia, now 18 and a part-time coach for the foundation, found a community and purpose at Bloomsbury. She stated, "The moment I came to Bloomsbury, I found kindred spirits." She credits the coaching and the environment with helping her develop patience and self-expression, making her dreams feel possible.

Ali, who was home-schooled due to bullying related to a stutter, found social connection and a sense of belonging through Bloomsbury's sessions. His father, Eyad, described football as a "saviour for our son," adding, "Without my football sessions to look forward to at the end of my school day, I would have been so lonely. It would have been a problem."

Bloomsbury Football Foundation offers two main strands of activity: competitive squad training for talented young players and more relaxed, inclusive sessions focused on participation and personal development. The charity reports that 86 per cent of its participants are eligible for financial support bursaries, indicating a strong focus on accessibility for those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Grant Details

The £62,500 grant was administered by The London Community Foundation as part of The Standard’s £500,000 Sporting Chance initiative. This campaign supports charities using sports coaching and mentoring to help disadvantaged young Londoners. A further £250,000 from the Dispossessed Fund has been pledged to support school sports programmes delivered by Greenhouse Sports, a campaign partner.