The Football Association of Ireland have announced that it has secured €100,000 from the UEFA Foundation for Children to support health and social integration projects via the John Giles Foundation.

Established in 2010, the John Giles Foundation operates an open application process for football clubs, schools and community organisations to apply for funding towards their own football project with a social inclusion remit.

These submissions are reviewed and assessed by the trustees of the foundation.

The UEFA Foundation for Children's decision-making body is the board of trustees, chaired by former European Commission president José Manuel Durão Barroso.

The group opted to support a number of projects for 2016 which met the following criteria: correspondence with the Foundation's statutes; credibility of the partner organisations; presentation of a viable budget with local partners; and viability of the activities.

Initiative

A new initiative led by the John Giles Foundation is to encourage our grassroots clubs to embrace a national "Healthy Kids" team event.

This involves three main elements: Education on nutrition, a balanced diet and the importance of regular physical activity; An outlet to provide physical activity; and support to children from their team and community to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

John Giles thanked the UEFA Foundation for Children for its significant support of the John Giles Foundation. "I'm delighted to hear that the Foundation has received this support from the UEFA Foundation for Children and it will help us assist grassroots projects up and down the country," said Giles.

"I'd also like to thank the FAI and John Delaney for making this submission to UEFA and look forward to seeing further activities for the John Giles Foundation taking place over the coming months."