The beginning of March sees one of the busiest periods for turf professionals and club volunteers who are busy getting their playing surfaces ready for the start of a new playing season. This year, circumstances will be especially hectic due to the opening up following Covid restrictions, effectively beginning with the second step on 29th March.

Last week I contacted Jason Booth from the GMA to see how their #GroundsWeek event had been received. Jason said they were blown away with the response and success of the week - especially where it brought about an awareness of the work and knowledge required to maintain and manage sports facilities. It was a great initiative which I can see becoming an annual event to raise the profile of our industry.

I also read with interest an article by James Coyne of The Cricketer website that the grass roots game could well play a serious role in restoring the morale of the British people coming out of the pandemic.

I am inclined to agree that the opportunity for people to get back to playing sport and making use of public open spaces has never been so important. We must get people active again and encourage people to support their local sports clubs.

I like to think that we will also see a lot of new people taking up sport and making good use of these valuable community facilities. Clubs need to work hard to ensure their facilities are a welcoming place and can provide the right incentive to get active again. I would like to see a resurgence in bowls for example, with many people taking up this sport. Clubs do however need be proactive in attracting new members and promote the benefits of their sport. 

I personally think this pandemic has changed peoples’ outlook on life and made them more appreciative of what they have and family values. 

Keeping heathy and active will now be a primary driver for many people, and I would hope that these community sports facilities will play an important part in delivering these needs. The government road map will be a key path back to some form of normality come late June. 

A key moment along the roadmap will be when the popular parkruns start operating again. I read that this will be quite soon, with junior parkrun events across England due to return from Sunday 11 April 2021 and 5k parkrun events across England will return on Saturday 5 June 2021. 

While on the subject of parks, as a Green Flag judge I am again looking forward to getting out and about, judging some nominated parks come June when restrictions are lifted. Information on the Green Flag scheme can be read here.

 
As for cricket, the ECB have said they welcome the Government’s decision to permit outdoor grassroots cricket to return in time for the start of the 2021 season from 29th March. Cricket plays an important role in many people’s lives and helps to maintain positive mental and physical wellbeing. The ECB are working with Sport England and the Government on each step of the Government’s Roadmap. They have said they will issue further guidance shortly on what each step of the roadmap means for the game to support players, teams, clubs, coaches and umpires to prepare in time for 29th March. 

Rugby however, is still awaiting final confirmation of when full contact and competitive matches can be played. 

Funding & Grants

As for funding and grants for sport, there are a number of grants and funding schemes currently available.

In last Wednesday’s budget for example, a £300m summer sports survival package was announced, with cricket the big winner. To find out more visit the Funding 4 Sport website.

Sport England have also announced some additional funding opportunities with a £16.5m Return to Play Fund. There are three parts to this new fund - Small Grants and the Community Asset Fund, which have been adapted from pre-coronavirus funds, and Active Together crowdfunding, which has been extended - with all three now focusing on a safe return to play and narrowing the inequalities gap in sport and physical activity. 

 
The Culture Secretary has also announced the latest tranche of funding from the Government’s Sport Winter Survival Package, providing a boost to women’s sport. The Women’s Super League and FA Women’s Championship will receive a combined £2.25 million of grant support for essential league costs, in addition to a proportion of 250,000 free Covid-19 lateral flow testing kits being made available by the Government to elite sports, with women’s sport designated as a priority.

I know that the RFU have been busy in recent weeks processing club allocations for a £23 million worth of sports funding which will help clubs get over the effects of the pandemic. 

Also, the Enovert Community Trust has announced that the next closing date for funding applications is the 2nd April 2021. The Trust is committed to supporting community and environmental projects, such as improving community halls, creating new children’s play areas, restoring green spaces and habitats, and enhancing community sports and recreation facilities.

Funding is available to non-profit making organisations, constituted organisations or groups within 10 miles of a landfill site operated by Enovert Management Limited, or within ten miles of a waste facility managed by the company.   

Most grants are up to £50,000 but there are no maximum or minimum grant levels given.