Stradbroke Cricket Club among a number of local organisations to successfully bid for Sport England grant

A host of clubs in the area have been recipients of some much-needed grants from the Community Emergency Fund – an initiative set up by Sport England in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

In response to the government’s advice and lockdown rules implemented in mid-March, Sport England publicised its Community Emergency Funding opportunity, designed to support clubs and physical activity organisations to survive these unprecedented circumstances.

The money has come from a combination of the National Lottery and government funding, administered by Sport England. Grants of £300-£10,000 were available to help cover such things as club utility costs, rent, core staffing costs and any losses since March 1.

And among a list of 67 clubs that were successful in their bid for funding were: Wortham Bowls Club, St Botolph’s & District Bowls Club, Thorndon Bowls Club, Worlingworth Cricket Club, Stradbroke Cricket Club, Debenham Bowls Club and Thornham Magna Bowls Club.

Stradbroke CC chairman Michael Hugman said of their £1,000 grant: “It covers the period March to June and is in respect of loss of income in that period, which in the case of Stradbroke, is loss of match fees, sponsorship and our major fund-raising event (horse race evening).

“During that period, our insurance is due. The money will be used to continue to maintain our ground, which is a community asset, and will fund our coaching in five local primary schools, if we are allowed to do so. It would be over-dramatic to say that without it the club would go to the wall, but it has allowed us to continue to function, albeit in a non-playing capacity, in readiness for the resumption of cricket, whenever that may be.”

Sport England has now paused new applications to the Community Emergency Fund to ensure that all existing applications can be assessed promptly and the much-needed funds distributed to those that are in need.