HatTrick help at hand

Wales and Switzerland
Several associations will benefit under decisions taken at the latest meeting of the UEFA HatTrick board in Nyon, Switzerland.
The Football Association of Wales will be given €1.6m towards the construction of new headquarters, while the Swiss Football Association is set to receive €800,000 towards a youth education programme.

Mini-pitch support
In addition, support in building mini-pitches is being given to Latvia (minimum 43 mini-pitches – €643,000), Serbia and Montenegro (minimum 40 mini-pitches – €643,000) and Liechtenstein (ten mini-pitches – €322,000).

Grassroots measure
UEFA is promoting the installation of mini-pitches as a vital grassroots measure whereby young people will be encouraged to play football, especially in urban areas. So far, 23 mini-pitch projects have been approved for the total amount of €12m. Under the HatTrick investment programme, 55 projects in 35 countries have been approved for an overall amount of more than €43m.

Project funding
The HatTrick programme was launched in August 2003 and will continue until 2008. Its objective is to assist UEFA's member associations with the funding of projects designed to develop and improve their footballing infrastructures.

Main elements
There are three main elements to the programme: direct financial support in the form of one-off grants, payments for the construction of mini-pitches to commemorate the UEFA Golden Jubilee, and assistance with education.