A new targeted fund aimed at tackling inequalities and supporting the return to play by improving the quality of rugby union, rugby league and cricket pitches.
Grass pitch quality is one of the biggest challenges facing sports clubs and organisations.
Funded by Sport England (using National Lottery funding) and in partnership with the RFU, RFL and ECB, the Pitch Improvement Fund aims to improve the quality of cricket and rugby pitches for the people and communities that need it most, creating new and better opportunities to play and grow the game.
The fund aims to tackle inequalities in physical activity levels by creating opportunities to play sport for lower socio-economic groups, culturally diverse communities, disabled people, women & girls and those with long-term health conditions.
This could be increasing the number of women and girls or disability teams or making players and volunteers at your club more representative of your local community.
Without volunteers to help maintain grass pitches the quality will quickly deteriorate no matter the starting point. The work that will be required to keep the standard of the pitches high provides a real opportunity to recruit and educate more volunteers and we can help you do this.
This fund is open to clubs and local authorities who have been approached by the ECB, RFU or RFL. If pitches have been identified as requiring major capital and/or renovation works, the responsible organisations will be invited to complete an Expression of Interest (EOI), followed by a full application.
This is a targeted fund and only those organisations who have been identified and approached by their NGB will be invited to submit an EOI, followed by a full application.
Improved grass pitches mean more opportunities to play for your local community
Grants of up to £150k for:
If your project is successful then congratulations are in order! We want to make the process as simple as possible so post award we don’t ask for a lot. We just want to make sure that our investment will be safeguarded therefore we ask that:
1) Your pitch standard remains at ‘good’ and is sustained at this level
2) You complete two PitchPower assessments each year so we can monitor pitch quality
3) Two current members of the organisation complete the GMA Level 1 in pitch maintenance so that there is good knowledge within the club on how to maintain the standard of the pitches
You'll receive ongoing support from your Regional Pitch Adviser at the GMA to help maintain a high standard of pitch quality.
