COVID-19 Financial Support for Clubs and Organisations

Last updated: 3 July 2020

Next update due: 10 July 2020

(*new content asterisked)

If your club has recently obtained any funding, please email HCB.Admin@ageasbowl.com.  ECB advise that cricket's relationship with government will be enhanced in the coming months if cricket can demonstrate that it has raised funds for cricket and community causes.

Government Grant and Business Rates Relief eligibility

The fund is administered by the 14 Hampshire and Isle of Wight local authorities.  Please click here for details of local authority grant and rate relief contacts.  Please click here to look up a rateable value, here for the government's Business Coronavirus Support Finder, and here for the eligibility criteria.

Local authority discretionary grant funds (with short deadlines) have been opened for organisations not eligible for small business or retail, leisure and hospitality grants.  Please click here to visit the government website for details.

Businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors (including sports clubs) in England will not have to pay business rates for the 2020-21 tax year, please click here for details.  Your local authority will write to you if you are eligible for rate relief.  You should make contact with your local authority if you are not getting a relief to which you think you are entitled.

Please click here for information on the Government’s support for businesses that pay little or no business rates, and here for the Sport and Recreation Alliance's helpful guidance. 

Will there be emergency ECB financial support to cover facility maintenance, insurance, running costs and loss of income?

ECB have announced three emergency schemes to support the recreational game. 

• League Emergency Loan Scheme, £50k interest free to leagues covering balls, handbooks and entry fees - click here for details
• £18 million Emergency Loan Scheme for clubs including 12-month repayment holiday (contact loans@ecb.co.uk)
  
• £2 million Return to Cricket Grant Scheme (contact HCB.Admin@ageasbowl.com)

ECB grant aid is designed for the clubs most in need and in immediate danger, while a larger part of the funding is allocated to the loan scheme.  Clubs should explore Government and Sport England options first.  We recommend that clubs contact all their suppliers to renegotiate 2020 costs.  Please click here to download the cashflow template excel spreadsheet prepared by our good friends at the Derbyshire Cricket Foundation. 

Will clubs have to continue to make England and Wales Cricket Trust (EWCT) Interest Free Loan Scheme repayments?

The Trustees of the England and Wales Cricket Trust (ECB’s subsidiary charity) have agreed that loan repayments will be suspended until May 2021. All other terms and conditions remain in place. If you have any questions, please contact loans@ecb.co.uk.

The scheme remains open to eligible clubs providing finance for capital projects (including machinery).  If your club wishes to apply, please click here to download an Expression of Interest Form.  This scheme is separate to the Emergency Loan Scheme and is not administered through ECB’s Investment Management System.

CASC (Community Amateur Sports Club) Status

Please click here for the list of 45 Hampshire clubs and organisations registered as CASCs as at February 2020 on the HMRC website.  Please click here for ECB information on CASC status.  Please click here for Government information on CASCs including eligibility for Gift Aid.

We are aware that many CASCs and charities have suspended the collection of membership subscriptions in light of the COVID-19 pandemic but some individuals are making voluntary donations instead in order to support their club.

It is worthwhile reminding you that that there is no barrier to Gift Aid being claimed on such donations, provided they are freely given, no benefits arise in consequence of that specific donation (either now or in the future) or, if provided, they fall within the legislative limits, and a Gift Aid Declaration is obtained.

In circumstances where clubs have reduced their subscription rate, any amounts freely donated over and above this reduced amount would also potentially be eligible for Gift Aid. In all cases it must made clear to the members that the amounts voluntarily given by them are not subscriptions, carry no subscription rights and will be treated as donations on which the CASC or charity will claim Gift Aid.

The personal tax implications of making a Gift Aid donation will also need to be explained to donors.

Other sources of financial support

Funding sources include but are not limited to:

• Sport England have announced a £20 million Community Emergency Fund available immediately for local club and community organisations.  Please click here for information on grants between £300 and £10,000.  The application form has to be completed in order and in one attempt, so the nice people at Funding4Sport have created a template which can be viewed here.  £15 million was added to the fund to which applications are currently temporarily paused.
  
• Sport England has announced £1 million of crowdfunding to match fund club fundraising.  Please click here for more information.
• Please click here for information on the £600,000 Crowdfund Solent Pay It Forward fund for micro businesses and small businesses.
• Parish, borough, district and county councils may be able to offer local support.  Contact your local council and / or councillor for more information.
• Clubs constituted as charities can click here for charity specific funding information from the Charities Aid Foundation.
• Please click here for Grants Online's list of funds accepting applications.

NatWest COVID-109 Cricket Club Financial Guide

Given the impact Coronavirus has had on the start of this year’s cricket season, NatWest together with the ECB have launched a new online financial guide to help cricket leagues, clubs and volunteers efficiently manage their finances and help clubs thrive.  The NatWest Club Cricket Financial Guide offers practical advice and tools including how to deal with the impact of Coronavirus, looking after the cricket community and guidance on how to boost income through tips on memberships, facilities and sponsor support.  The guide is available here for clubs to download and access.  Tips include:

• Taking Care of the Community:  Cricket clubs are a huge part of a local community and have a role to play in keeping morale high. As a club, it’s important to remember that your club will need to balance the needs of the members as well as considering the impact on the club. Here are a few thought starters to help members reduce the cost of playing and keep them involved in the club.
• Flexibility:  Some members might need some flexibility with membership payments due to reduced income. Thinking about how they can structure payments over time to help members stay involved with the club can have longer term benefits that should be considered.
• Second-hand Kit Sale:  Another consideration for your members is a second-hand kit sale. Cost of new equipment can be pricey so if there are any members not returning or buying new kit for the season that may help reduce the cost of playing and keep members at the club.

£100 from ECB - Spacehive Fundraising during COVID-19 (closed for applications Thu 14 May)

To support the Grants and Loan Schemes, we have provided all clubs who raise £100 towards supporting with COVID-19 activities with a further £100.  

Clubs already using Spacehive can either continue with their existing campaign and ring fence the funds for the Dynamos Cricket programme when it happens, or you can start a new campaign around supporting the club during the COVID-19 crisis. The ECB can only pledge £100 to your centre once, either to the Dynamos Cricket campaign or the COVID-19 campaign.

Finch Group Insurance Brokers

Finch Insurance have a facility to enable payment of their premium over ten monthly instalments.  They have also contacted insured clubs to try and help them assess their requirements, particularly in connection with the need for Liability Insurance, acknowledging that there is no training or playing currently being undertaken. Please click here for the advice.  They have also been able to agree a reduction in the Liability Insurance premium, and have again advised insured clubs accordingly.