Football and Government's groundbreaking partnership, the Football Foundation, is set to give a big new boost to grass roots sport as a new three-year investment commitment worth £135million was announced by its funding partners - the Premier League, The Football Association and the Government.

Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport joined Football Foundation Chief Executive Paul Thorogood, Premier League Chief Executive Richard Scudamore and Chief Executive of The Football Association Brian Barwick to make the announcement in the shadow of Wembley Stadium, at Stonebridge Recreation Ground.

Stonebridge is one of more than 5,000 projects which the Foundation has funded to improve facilities, create opportunities and build communities throughout England.

Each of the three funding partners has agreed to invest £15million per year over three years to enable the Football Foundation - the UK's largest sports charity - to continue its work.

Mr. Burnham was instrumental in establishing the Football Foundation in July, 2000, in order to rebuild the infrastructure of community sports facilities across the country. Since it was launched from the garden of 10 Downing Street by then Prime Minister Tony Blair and current Newcastle United manager Kevin Keegan, the Foundation has invested in over 5,000 projects worth £650million.

Of these, 1,113 are facility projects worth £442million and 1,635 are community schemes worth £203million that use football and sport participation as a tool to tackle issues such as crime and anti social behaviour among young people, obesity, homelessness and mental health.

The Football Foundation has delivered all of these projects while recouping all of its overheads and administrative costs, as it invests the money received from the Premier League and The FA upfront each year. One hundred per cent of the money donated by the Foundation's funding partners therefore goes directly to good causes. This makes the Foundation one of the most financially efficient organisations in Britain.

In addition, the Football Foundation delivers a £5 to £1 return on its funding partners' contributions, as it uses its funds to leverage additional investment from organisations such as local businesses, councils, sports clubs or charities. Since 2000, the Foundation has leveraged an additional £335million to supplement its own grants.

Stonebridge Recreation Ground, the venue for Wednesday's announcement, is a facility that has been transformed with the help of a £1million Football Foundation grant awarded to the Hillside Housing Trust.

The site now boasts state-of-the-art facilities, comprising a new four-room changing pavilion housing, a mini gym, a café, a multi-purpose hall, training rooms for coach and referee education and a viewing terrace. The site also has a refurbished full size grass pitch, a full size floodlit 3G artificial grass pitch and a multi-use games area, used for netball, tennis and other sports.

The Foundation directs 40 per cent of its funding into the top 20 per cent most deprived communities. As the jewel in the crown of Harlesden's urban renewal programme, the Stonebridge Rec site is an example of how a sports centre can help regenerate an entire community.

Last week the Foundation unveiled Arsenal and England striker Theo Walcott as their Junior Kit Scheme Ambassador. This is a £1million-a-year scheme that provides school teams and clubs for under 18s and adults with learning disabilities with £400 vouchers to get Nike football strips and equipment. Over 210,000 youngsters have been kitted out by the scheme so far.

Two primary schools were awarded free football strips and equipment through the Football Foundation's Junior Kit Scheme and were trying them out for the first time at the Foundation's funding announcement. Stonebridge Primary School and Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Primary School get to use the sports facilities for free every week.

Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Andy Burnham said: "The Football Foundation has shown itself to be a massive force for good in the last eight years, increasing opportunities for young people to get involved in our national game and other sports, whether as players or coaches. It has also dramatically improved many sports facilities for communities up and down the country.

"This unique partnership is a shining example of what can be done when the governing bodies of sport work in partnership with Government to deliver a streamlined investment programme into grass roots sport.

"The challenge now is for the Foundation to build on their good work in providing a new generation of facilities and continue to invest in development projects and coaching opportunities in order to increase participation. We look forward to continuing this winning partnership for many years to come."

Paul Thorogood, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: "Football is the national game and the Football Foundation is there to ensure that grassroots footballers can enjoy playing on the best possible facilities. Better facilities leads to increased participation in sport, which in turn has wider positive personal and community benefits.

"Our research shows that participation in grassroots football has increased by an average of 21 per cent across Football Foundation funded facilities, with an average 14 per cent increase in participation in other sports.

"I am delighted that the Government, the Premier League and the FA have each agreed to invest a further £45million per year for the next three years to enable the Football Foundation to continue to provide new changing rooms, floodlights and the very latest third generation artificial pitches and rebuild dilapidated facilities across the country."

Premier League Chief Executive Richard Scudamore said: "The Premier League and our member clubs have supported the Football Foundation since its creation back in July 2000.

"Whilst our continued financial support has been critical to funding a new generation of grass roots facilities, the backing of Premier League clubs and their players has helped deliver and sustain partnerships in both the public and private sector. These have brought more investment and created more opportunities for increased participation in areas where it is needed most.

"Redistributing a substantial amount down through the game to improve the quality and accessibility of football for all remains something the Premier League fundamentally believes in. Our commitment to a further three years funding of the Foundation will continue to make a positive impact on the grass roots of the game."

Brian Barwick, Chief Executive of The Football Association, said: "The FA's commitment to grassroots football could not have been more clearly emphasised than our £200million investment through the National Game Strategy launched in March. It represented the culmination of months of consultation and planning and sets clear, bold targets which we will be judged against.

"The Football Foundation's role in delivering this brighter future for our national sport is key. Better facilities will encourage more players and coaches to take up the game.

"However, superb facilities that lie dormant and unused are no good to anyone. The National Game Strategy relies on County FA's and other delivery bodies making best use of them. There are millions of adults and children wanting to get involved in the game, and it is up to everyone involved in the grassroots game to seize this momentum, and make a real difference."