Unsurprisingly, over 80% of Network members say funding and finance issues are amongst their highest priorities. And, within that number, nearly 50% say they are planning significant facilities investment in the near future.
So what do we know:
- Sport England is no longer interested in clubs as a strategic priority unless they are delivering ‘activity’ in areas of highest multiple deprivation or to specific underserved groups
- there is no specific Sport England facilities fund and it is now primarily focused on matched crowdfunding upto £15,000
- as a result ECB’s traditional approach of pump-priming Sport England investment in cricket is no longer valid and it has focused its priorities on those deprived and underserved communities too
- ECB funding of clubs fell from £14 million to £7 million in 2023-4
- ECB County Grants fund due to cease after 2024 extended for a further year -diversity and environment priorities – alongside so-called “strategic priority” funding
- there is still ECB interest free loan-funding available. £1.6million was loaned to 69 clubs in the last financial year. So an average £23,000 each.
- local authorities through Local Plans, housing developer contribution and Levelling Up funds are now the most common source of significant investment in clubs as community and recreational facilities
- increasingly, clubs needing significant finance will need to build a patchwork of smaller pots from multiple national, regional and local funders – that means systemising their approach to fund finding and application, making themselves attractive funding propositions to funders with different objectives and priorities
- clubs may also have to look, in future, at other funding vehicles, including semi commercial and commercial lenders and private investors, by adopting appropriate ownership structures and building new reliable income streams
The Network’s Breakfast Club is a fortnightly ‘drop-in’ roundtable discussion on Thursdays, 9.30-10.30am :
- funding sources
- improving your chances
- latest ideas on new income streams
- cost savings and boosting revenues
- catch-up on latest club successes
- grappling with challenges
- potential solutions
More details on how to join in can be found through the Breakfast Club pages on the Members’ Portal.