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ECB Launches £45M Fund to Boost Grassroots Cricket Facilities
An additional £45m from investment into The Hundred teams will fund new and improved grassroots facilities as part of a cash injection into recreational cricket.
The new Strategic Facilities Fund, announced by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), will target projects across England and Wales that benefit women and girls, disabled participants, lower socioeconomic groups and ethnically diverse communities as part of efforts to make cricket the most inclusive team sport.
It’s expected to support the development and creation of a wide mix of facility types, and is aimed at projects such as cricket domes, indoor halls, multi-use areas, non-turf facilities, upgrades to community cricket venues and hybrid community sport hubs. Cricket boards will be able to bid for money from the new fund, which is expected to run for at least 10 years. It opened in April.
Recreational County Boards and local stakeholders will be encouraged to work in partnership to attract other funding and support to further boost the value of projects. It’s hoped that this will mean projects generate at least £3 of economic value for every £1 invested.
The initiative will also seek partners who can add value in other ways, such as access to land and space, long-term usage agreements, favourable lease or rental terms, and in-kind contributions such as planning support, community access commitments and reduced commercial rates.
In addition to the £45m, a further £6m from the recreational game’s share of investment into The Hundred will be used over the next three years to support the Recreational County Board network in delivering its own strategic plans.