The future of cricket across Essex and the UK is imperative throughout these challenging months ahead. Cricket clubs and leagues will be able to apply to two new funding schemes from Friday 17 April, specifically designed to provide help through the period of uncertainty as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
We appreciate there is a vast amount of information and resources to consider but if you have any questions relating to this then you can contact one of our team by email; Graham Pryke: [email protected] or Arfan Akram: [email protected]
Emergency Loan Scheme
The ECB Emergency Loan Scheme aims to support affiliated Cricket Clubs by providing interest-free loans to assist clubs to cover any shortfall in essential day to day running and maintenance costs until normal recreational cricket activity can be resumed.
Clubs can find out more information here.
Return to Cricket Grant Scheme
The Return to Cricket Grant Scheme aims to provide affiliated cricket clubs and leagues (open-age and junior) to the ECB with emergency assistance in exceptional circumstances. Full eligibility criteria can be found in the Guidance Notes.
Clubs and leagues can find out more information here.
The Role of Essex Cricket in the Community (ECiC)
Emergency Loan Scheme:
When a loan application is received through the ECB Investment Management System, Essex Cricket in the Community are required to confirm the club is affiliated and that the information provided is accurate to the best of our knowledge.
Return to Cricket Grant Scheme:
Essex Cricket in the Community will be the first point of call for clubs and leagues applying to the grant scheme, providing eligible applicants with an Application Form, which should be completed and submitted to their ECB Regional Facilities Planning Manager for review.
FAQs and Help Desk
Essex Cricket in the Community are here to help all Club and Leagues. If you have any questions about either scheme, please contact one of ourteam below:
• Graham Pryke: [email protected]
• Arfan Akram: [email protected]
To ensure we help the clubs and leagues most in need, we’d very much appreciate your support in communicating the schemes throughout your local club and league network by email, featuring them on your website and via your social media channels.
To help we have provided the following:
• A copy of the communication that will be sent by ECB to clubs and activators can be found here, and leagues can be found here.
• Access to a small number of assets and example text that you can use to promote the schemes on your website and social media channels. Click here to access the assets.
We thank you for your continued support during this difficult time and we hope you and everyone in your respective clubs or leagues stay safe and well.
Finally…
There are also a range of other financial support packages that are available to recreational sport and we encourage local clubs to investigate their eligibility for these, which are available immediately subject to meeting the respective criteria. These include, but are not limited to:
• Government initiatives: Business Rates holiday, Job Retention Scheme, VAT deferral, Statutory Sick Pay Rebate, Grant funding for rate-paying clubs, HMRC Time to Pay Scheme, Business Interruption Loan Scheme.
• Sport England: Community Emergency Fund
Please note there are criteria and conditions to support these initiatives available via the relevant websites.
