County Grant Fund launches 1st February 2024
1st February 2024
| Victoria Jones
ECB County Grants Fund is now open for grassroots cricket clubs to apply for grants of up to £10,000 to support projects that will benefit facilities across Wales.
The programme provides grants to successful applicants for a range of different criteria including, but not limited to:
Creating Welcoming Environments – supporting All Stars, Dynamos, Women’s and Girls’ Cricket and / or Disability Cricket
- Social Space – furniture / decoration / flooring / patio / decking / heating / glazing
- Toilet Facilities – sanitaryware / tiling / flooring / baby-changing facilities
- Catering – kitchen units / appliances / professional catering equipment / barbecue
- Arrival and Access – lighting / signage / car park / disabled access
- Digitising – WiFi / Broadband hardware (excludes subscription fees) / TVs / PA or Music systems / Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS) equipment / Electronic Scoreboards (only if part of a wider digitisation project)
Providing Enhanced Facilities and Playing Opportunities – supporting Women’s and Girls’ Cricket and / or Disability Cricket
Enhanced Changing Facilities:
- Create individual shower spaces with drying areas
- Improved toilet provision – sanitaryware / tiling / flooring
- Decoration / mirrors / hand dryers / grooming points
- Personal possession lockers
Tackling Climate Change – supporting ECB affiliated Cricket Clubs
- Flood Resilience – building protection / targeted drainage* / ditch or culvert clearance
- Drought Resilience – rainwater harvesting / bore holes / irrigation**
- Energy Saving – Insulation / LED lighting / Solar PV / Solar Thermal / energy-efficient heating systems / double or triple glazing / EV Chargers
- Water Management – Water-saving sanitaryware / greywater recycling / efficient appliances
- Electric mower or roller (maximum grant of 25% of costs only.)
Cricket Wales have provided some key bits of advice for applicants to carefully consider when submitting:
DO
- Read the CGF guidance document
- If applying for a changing room project, read the ECB’s guidance documents
- Be clear and concise in detailing the impact outcomes of your project
- Carefully consider your supporting evidence – this is an integral piece of successful applications
- Ensure contractor timelines are realistic in relation to Cricket Wales’ grant decision periods
- Ensure your project is well thought out and that the club/organisation can facilitate the desired outcomes with post-project management plans
- Ensure the project meets the needs of club and wider community – ensuring this is in line with Club Development plans
DON’T
- Rush your application
- Submit an incomplete application
- Suggest the project will benefit other organisations without evidence of consultation with those organisations
- Be vague with outcomes e.g. “a long-term aim is to introduce a female pathway”, instead be specific and measurable e.g. “the club will introduce an U9 & U11 female team 24/25 season, and introduce two new age groups in 25/26 and 26/27 seasons.”
- Work on the application alone – allocate and seek advice from others at your club or organisation
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Set a realistic budget – base designs around a simple, functional, easy-to-manage facility.
KEY DATES
- Expression of Interest open 1st–14th February 2024
- Panel review Expression of Interests 19th February 2024
- Communication sent to all applicants 20th February 2024
- Stage 2 application open 20thFebruary –17th March 2024 –no outstanding documentation or due diligence after this stage
- Panel review Stage 2 applications 22nd March 2024
- Communication sent to all applicants 25th March 2024
HOW TO APPLY
The ECB County Grant Fund is OPEN for applications between 1st – 14th February 2024.
Submit your application on the ECB’s Investment Management System (IMS)