COVID-19 has had a significant impact on elite sport, but grassroots cricket has been hit particularly hard, threatening the survival of clubs that offer so much to the people who engage with them and support them.

With the challenges faced, LV= aims to support the ECB in connecting communities, building better lives through cricket and increasing the relevance of the sport in traditionally non-cricket communities. Ultimately this will help engage communities with cricket, either through participation, attendance or support.

The fund will be focused on recovering and rebuilding the lives of children across four key areas:

  1. Those from deprived backgrounds
  2. Those from diverse communities
  3. Those within disability groups
  4. Those taking part in women’s and girls’ programmes

Additionally, the fund ties into three core ECB objectives:

  • Connecting communities and improving lives through cricket
  • Increasing the relevance of cricket locally with non-cricket stakeholders
  • Growing long-term engagement with cricket in communities

Eligibility:

The Scheme is open to the following Organisations in England and Wales:

  • County Cricket Boards / Foundations
  • Affiliated Cricket Clubs and Leagues
  • All Stars or Dynamos Cricket Centres
  • Charities delivering cricket activity
  • Community organisations delivering cricket activity

What the Grant must be used for

If awarded a grant under the Scheme, the Organisation must use the grant to deliver free cricket activity to one or more of the following groups:

  • Children
  • Women and Girls
  • Disability
  • Diverse Communities

Types of recreational cricket activity that will be considered under the Scheme are as follows:

  • All Stars Cricket
  • Dynamos Cricket
  • Competition / Tournament (not already funded by ECB)
  • Summer School programmes
  • Coaching
  • Other recreational cricket activity delivered to one or more of the user groups

Eligible Costs

Whilst this is not an exhaustive list, applications for the grant funding to be used towards costs that directly relate to the delivery of recreational cricket activity to one or more of the user groups outlined above will be considered, as follows:

  • Facility or venue hire
  • All Stars Cricket (No of places @ £40 per head) (max 50 per venue)
  • Dynamos Cricket (No of places @ £40 per head) (max 50 per venue)
  • Staff Costs (Qualified coaches @ £20 per hour x No of hours)
  • Staff Costs (Volunteer expenses @ up to £25 per person per day)
  • Admin and Project Marketing Costs
  • Playing Equipment – Kwik Cricket, Softball, Hard Ball (excludes All Stars & Dynamos as equipment included)
  • Coaching Equipment – Cones, Bibs, Bean Bags, Windballs
  • T-shirts (excludes All Stars & Dynamos as shirts included)
  • Trophies, Medals
  • Catering – e.g. snacks, soft drinks, food for end of event BBQ
  • Any other related expenditure

Funding Amounts

Between £1,000 – £3,000 will usually be awarded.

In exceptional circumstances, awards over £3,000 may be awarded to an Organisation, subject to approval by the #Funds4Runs panel.

The Scheme will close on 30 September 2021 (or when the funds run out, whichever is earlier). All projects must be completed by 30 November 2021.

To find out more click here: https://www.ecb.co.uk/sponsors-and-partners/LV=funds4runs