Chase: Free Access to FAW Courses

Become the coach you want to be

Fully funded access to FAW Courses supported by Chase

Fully funded access to FAW Courses supported by Chase 

If you dream of being a qualified football coach but the cost of training has held you back, the Football Association of Wales (FAW) could help open the door for you.

Even if you’re new to the game or simply want to grow your skills and learn to become a leader, we can help. 

In 2024, our Official Banking Partner Chase and the FAW will be providing fully funded access to Coach Education courses, open to individuals across Wales, including:

Course Information

FAW Foundation Award

(Including Football Leaders Award, Football Emergency Aid and Safeguarding Award)

The FAW Foundation Award is made up of the FAW Football Leaders Award, FAW Emergency Football Aid and FAW Safeguarding Award. Chase funding covers all three online courses, which must be completed in order to achieve the FAW Foundation Award. 

  • FAW Football Leaders Award; This course is available online and can be completed on-demand, at any time. This course takes approximately 6 hours and students will have 6 months, from the date access is granted, to complete the course. After this time, the place will be withdrawn. 
  • FAW Football Emergency Aid; This course is available online and can be completed on-demand, at any time. This course takes approximately 3 hours and students will have 6 months, from the date access is granted, to complete the course. After this time, the place will be withdrawn. 
  • FAW Safeguarding Award; This course is available online and is tutor-led using the Zoom platform. This course takes 3 hours to complete. Once students have been accepted onto the course, they will be contacted directly to confirm the time and date of the course they’d like to attend. Details of course times and availability can be found here.

UEFA A

The UEFA A Licence course is framed within the ‘Welsh Way’ principles, set out in the FAW National Syllabus, and is designed to create coaches who plan and design meaningful practices, in varied contexts. The course is delivered through flexible teaching methods, over a 12-month period and takes 240 hours. It consists of three residential teaching blocks, arranged around the competitive season breaks. Support is provided between course times by dedicated FAW mentoring staff, who work on the individual needs of each coach.

UEFA B

The UEFA B Licence course gives coaches the necessary skills and experience to work with players aged 12 and above. The ‘Welsh Way’ principles, as set out in the FAW National Syllabus, are embedded into the course to provide a focus. The regional domestic course runs over six months, takes 120 hours and involves theory and online modules, which underpin practical elements.

Eligibility Criteria

Not everyone has access to the same opportunities when it comes to developing skills that can help support career growth. The Welsh FA and Chase want to help change that, by harnessing the power of football to help you develop transferable skills that can help unlock your potential, on and off the pitch.

To qualify for the course, individuals must meet the following criteria, at the time of application:

  • Are aged 16 and over,
  • Be living in Wales or currently volunteering, playing or coaching for a football club in Wales.
  • And at least one of the following; have an annual household income under £22,800, receive universal credit, received free school meals as a child or your parents were in a low paid or low skilled job when you were 14.

We’ll also ask you two questions (with a maximum 200 word limit). Your answers will be used to assess your suitability for a fully funded place and should demonstrate the impact the qualification would have on helping you achieve your football coaching ambitions:

  • the first asks why you should be considered for funding so we can understand your motivation for taking this course and,
  • the second is about your football aspirations to understand how you will use this qualification to benefit football.

Apply Today

If you think you’re eligible for a fully funded course through the programme, apply now.

Register Now for the FAW Foundation Award

About the Application Process

FAW Foundation Award

  • Applications for the FAW Foundation Award are now open and will be processed on a first come, first served basis.
  • To apply for Chase funding, you first need to register for the FAW Foundation Award course. On completion of the initial registration, you will be sent login details which will allow you access to your FAW Courses profile.
  • Once logged in you will be provided with the Chase funding eligibility application form – this can be found in the evidence section of your profile.
  • On completion, an independent FAW admissions panel will assess your application and a decisions will be confirmed within 7 days via email. 
  • If you’re funding application is successful, your application for the FAW Foundation Award will be accepted. If your funding application is unsuccessful, unfortunately your application to complete the FAW Foundation Award will be declined and FAW will be in touch to see if other course options might be suitable.

FAW/ UEFA B Licence

  • The application window for the UEFA B Licence has now closed. Additional UEFA B Licence courses will be released later this year.
  • To be notified of future courses, please add your details to the mailing list here.

FAW/ UEFA A Licence

  • The next application window for the UEFA A Licence will open from October 2024 onwards and commence in May 2025.
  • To be notified of future courses please add your details to the mailing list here

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible for funding?

To qualify for funded courses, individuals must meet the following eligibility criteria:

  • Aged 16 and over;
  • Must be living in Wales or involved with a Welsh football club;
  • Have a low income household or a low socio-economic background (as defined below); and
  • Have been selected by a panel based on responses to the two qualifying questions (submitted by the participant in writing, via audio or video submission) to assess applicants’ motivation and potential future impact of coaching.

Low income refers to people living in UK households with income below 60% of median UK income in a base year. For each year of the Programme this will be calculated on the previous year’s median household income. For example, year-end 2022, the average UK household income was £38,1001 and therefore in 2023 the Programme would be open to anyone with a household income of less than £22,860.

Low socio-economic background is defined as a combination of an individual’s (or parental) income, occupation and social background (using the government guidance to look at factors such as parental qualifications, parental occupation, type of school attended and eligibility for free school meals to identify and measure at an individual level).

What courses are currently being offered as part of the initiative?

FAW Foundation Award – which includes the FAW Football Leaders Award, FAW Safeguarding Award and FAW Football Emergency Aid

FAW / UEFA B Licence

FAW / UEFA A Licence

Can I still apply for the Foundation Award if I already have the FAW Football Leaders Award?

No, funding is in place to recruit and train new coaches.

Can I still apply for the Foundation Award if I already have the FAW Safeguarding Award and /or FAW Football Emergency Aid?

Yes, you are eligible to access the FAW Football Leaders Award.

Is there a minimum age to access funded courses?

The minimum age is 16 years.

How do I apply?

To apply for a funded course please click on the button above.

How long does it take to get a notification if my application has been successful?

FAW Foundation Award – Applications will be accessed on a weekly basis. Please allow a further 7 working days to receive notification.

FAW / UEFA B Licence – Please refer to the notification date detailed for the course you are applying to attend.

FAW / UEFA A Licence – Please refer to the notification date detailed for the course you are applying to attend.

How long will I have to complete the qualification?

FAW Football Leaders Award – Students will have 6 months from the date the course is awarded to complete the course otherwise the place will be withdrawn.

FAW Football Emergency Aid – Students will have 6 months from the date the course is awarded to complete the course otherwise the place will be withdrawn.

FAW Safeguarding Award  – Students will have 1 month from the date the course is awarded to register for the Safeguarding Award otherwise the place will be withdrawn.

FAW / UEFA B Licence – Please refer to the specific course terms and conditions.

FAW / UEFA A Licence – Please refer to the specific course terms and conditions.

How will the courses be delivered? When do they start?

FAW Football Leaders Award – This course is available online, OnDemand which can be accessed at any time. This course takes approximately 6 hours to complete.

FAW Football Emergency Aid – This course is available online, OnDemand which can be accessed at any time. This course takes approximately 3 hours to complete.

FAW Safeguarding Award – This course is available online and is tutor-led using the Zoom platform. This course takes 3 hours to complete. Please follow the link that details course dates and times https://www.fawcourses.com/category/safeguarding

FAW / UEFA B Licence – Students are required to attend a combination of practical and theory lectures, complete eLearning modules and distance learning tasks. This course is assessment-based and takes 120 hours to complete. Please follow the link that details course dates and times https://www.fawcourses.com/category/b-licence-regional

FAW / UEFA A Licence – Students are required to attend a combination of practical and theory lectures, complete eLearning modules and distance learning tasks. This course is assessment-based and course takes 240 hours to complete. Please follow the link that details course dates and times https://www.fawcourses.com/category/a-licence

I have noticed that the registration portal is closed. When will it re-open?

We only have a limited number of funded places available for each course. The registration window will be open for a limited period several times throughout the year. If the window is closed, please register your interest by inputting your email address where prompted on the course screen.

Will I need to pay anything?

If you are successful in gaining a funded course through this initiative, you will not have to pay.

How will my eligibility to access courses be checked?

During the application process, you are required to complete a self-declaration that asks you to confirm that you meet the criteria and the information. Provided is true and accurate. The FAW has the right to request evidence at any time to determine and confirm your eligibility for a funded course. The FAW has the right to require reimbursement of the course costs if it determines the information provided in the application form is false or inaccurate.

I have further queries not answered in this document. Who do I contact?

Our Coach Education team will be happy to answer queries and assist you. Please email coacheducation@faw.cymru or call 02920 435830

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