PLAYING fields are one of the most important resources for sport in England and, as many of them become waterlogged or reach a state of disrepair, Sport England are investing £28 million of National Lottery funding into improving community sports fields for clubs, schools and local authorities.
The Protecting Playing Fields funding programme is part of a strategy which is focused on helping more people acquire lifelong sporting habits. It will invest in capital projects to either create new natural turf pitches or improve existing ones which need levelling or drainage works. The programme is being delivered via funding rounds, the latest of which opened in December and will close at 5:00pm on Monday 9th February. Decisions will be made in April.
Approximately £4 million is being awarded to projects in each round – the first six rounds have benefited 399 projects. Sport England’s website features a self-assessment checklist which gives potential applicants a quick indication of whether Protecting Playing Fields is the right programme for them. There is a checklist for different types of organisation, such as local authorities, education establishments and community or voluntary organisations.
Protecting Playing Fields Fund guidance and FAQs can be found at www.sportengland.org/funding/our-different-funds/protecting-playing-fields. Round Eight will open on 14th September and close at 5:00pm on 2nd November. Information on other funding streams is shared at www.essexfa.com, on Twitter @EssexCountyFA and by searching for ‘EssexFootball’ on Facebook.
