Sport England Community Emergency Fund to provide financial support for community sport organisations including angling clubs.

• £20 million available to provide immediate support to those who most need it.
• Grants between £300 and £10,000 are available to help cover ongoing costs at a time when revenue has been affected.
• New Angling Trust Club Helpline setup to access Sport England Community Emergency Fund.

Sport England has announced a funding package to help sport and physical activity get through the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis. The money can be used to help angling clubs cope with the short and long-term impact of the pandemic. The package is a combination of National Lottery and Government funding.

Sport England Chief Executive Tim Hollingsworth said: “Sporting events are being cancelled, gyms and leisure centres are closed, clubs and community groups are not operating, and children and young people are all at home. This is impacting the sector financially in a significant way, although it is heartening to see huge amounts of innovation and agility, with many operators getting classes online in a matter of days to enable home workouts for example. We want the sector not just to come through this crisis but to be in a position to thrive again in the future and this package will ease the pressure on a huge number of the organisations who are central to that.”

Angling Trust Chief Executive Jamie Cook added: “Like most anglers I belong to several fishing clubs. I know firsthand that, as with the vast majority of sports, a cessation in participation due to Government guidelines on activity, travel and social distancing has had a dramatic impact. With all angling activity being put on hold, this is having a severe knock-on effect on our sport. However, anglers, angling clubs and fisheries have taken strong and decisive action. We have come together as a community done our bit in staying inside, saving lives and supporting our NHS. The Angling Trust has had thousands of visits to our dedicated COVID-19 information hub and we’ve setup a team of staff with expert knowledge to assist clubs to make applications for the Sport England Community Emergency Fund.”

The new Angling Trust Sport England Community Emergency Fund Helpline is here to assist angling clubs facing financial concerns so that when fishing can happen again angling will bounce-back and be ready to cater for the hundreds of thousands of anglers that are champing at the bit to go fishing again.

NEW: Angling Trust Sport England Community Emergency Fund Helpline

How to get Apply and Get Help:

• First: Check that your club qualifies – please read the FAQs to give you more info on the fund and detail as to whether your organisation is eligible
• Second: Get the application form – go to www.sportengland.org/how-we-can-help/our-funds/community-emergency-fund. You’ll need to scroll down to the bottom of the page and press Apply Now.
• Third: Angling Trust Member clubs can access the Angling Trust Sport England Community Emergency Fund Helpline by calling 0115 822 4660 during office hours. Hours or services may differ due to COVID-19 so please leave a message if you can’t speak to a member of staff immediately

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who is eligible for this fund?

A: The fund has been designed to support any club or organisation delivering community sport that is experiencing short term financial hardship or the ceasing of operations as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.

1. Angling Clubs
2. Small charitable trusts
3. Voluntary and Community sector organisations

Note: Unfortunately, this fund is not designed to assist fisheries, commercial organisations or individuals who are either employed or self-employed within the sport sector.

Q: What will the fund cover?

A: The Emergency Fund has been established to support community sports clubs and organisations meet their obligations (fixed costs for example) during a time when revenue has been affected as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.

1. Rent (lease fees)
2. Insurances
3. Facility or equipment hire
4. Core staffing costs (including casual workers) that can’t be met elsewhere by other Government funds
5. Retrospective losses dating from 1st March 2020

Q: What will the fund not cover?

1. New activities or events
2. Costs beyond the end of July 2020
3. Activities or costs that are covered by other Government funding

Note: Sport England manage several other funding streams which may be applicable to your project. Visit www.sportengland.org/how-we-can-help our-funds for more information on other funds available.

Q: What’s the deadline for applications?

1. At the time of writing there isn’t a set deadline for applications.
2. It is expected that all the funds will be spent by 31st July.
3. It is highly likely that Sport England will receive more applications than they can fund, as a result funds will be directed to where they are most needed.

Q: How much is available?

A: Awards between £300 and £10,000 are available.

Q: How will our application be judged?

A: Applications will be judged on your organisation’s:

1. Audience and reach:
   Organisations who work with the following groups or which are based in disadvantaged areas including areas of rural deprivation will be prioritised: disabled groups, lower socio-economic groups, older people, those with long term health conditions, women and girls and ethnically diverse groups
2. Role:
   Organisations that have actively delivered or enabled community sport in the last 12 months and is proactively staying in touch with participants in this period. For example, those that are involved in a coaching programme or family fishing programme
3. Financial need:
   An organisation will need to be able to demonstrate clear financial need as a result of the current situation. The impact of not receiving the funding will be taken into account. Your organisation should be able to clearly highlight the consequences of not receiving the funding and the impact it will have on your ability to deliver sport

Q: How long does the process take?

A: Sport England will endeavour to get back to you within 10 working days of submitting your application

Q: How do we apply?

A: Visit www.sportengland.org/how-we-can-help/our-funds/community-emergency-fund to access the online application form. You’ll need to scroll down to the bottom of the page and press Apply Now.

Q: Can I get help applying?

A: Yes! Angling Trust Member clubs can access the Angling Trust Sport England Community Emergency Fund Helpline by calling 0115 822 4660 during office hours. Hours or services may differ due to COVID-19 so please leave a message if you can’t speak to a member of staff immediately