To mark Non-League Day this weekend, we look at how the Premier League helps clubs below the top four divisions of the English football pyramid engage with their local community.
Girls being given greater opportunities
The Racecourse Community Foundation is the charitable arm of Wrexham Football Club and receives funding from the Premier League and the PFA via the National League Trust to deliver a wide variety of projects in schools in north Wales.
Gemma Owen, the Foundation's joint-business development manager, explains how the funding is helping their work in the local community.
"The two main projects we run are Premier League Primary Stars and our women and girls programme. We work in 30 schools, engaging about 1,000 people a week.
"Before we got the funding we were delivering our own numeracy, literacy and health and wellbeing projects along with a small amount of girls provision, but that was about it.
"With support from the Premier League and National League, we can broaden what we offer and have an impact on a lot more children. We provide them with a lot more opportunities, while also mentoring primary school teachers to improve their PE delivery.
"When we go into the school, it's different to what the children are doing in their normal school day. It's opening the children's eyes to a different way of learning.
"With support from the Premier League and National League, we can broaden what we offer and have an impact on a lot more children."
"There was little football provision for girls in Wrexham but us going into schools and showing that girls can play the game has enabled more girls grassroots teams to be formed.
"Those girls are now playing in leagues or mini-festivals, which is fantastic.
"I am born and bred in Wrexham. So to see the club integrated into the community through the work we do and to see the number of children getting these opportunities that we didn't have is hugely pleasing.
"We wouldn't be able to do this without the funding.
"We are very proud to be going into schools and helping children not only get involved in physical activity but improve their numeracy and literacy. It's the reason we do the job that we do."
Show your support on Non-League Day
Saturday 12 October marks Non-League Day. You can support the hundreds of semi-professional and amateur clubs around England by going to a non-league match on 12 October.
To find your nearest match, visit nonleagueday.co.uk/map.
Also in this series
Part 1: Dartford projects reaching people of all ages
Part 2: Notts County and PL Kicks building resilience
