The County Grants Fund aims to support ECB affiliated Cricket Clubs, which are actively engaged with women’s cricket, girls’ cricket and/or disability cricket, to create welcoming environments or to provide enhanced playing or changing facilities, in an effort to increase the number of women’s, girls’ and disability cricket teams, and to achieve the game’s vision to become the most inclusive team sport

To be eligible, clubs must deliver cricket for at least one of the following target groups

• Women’s Cricket: a minimum of one women’s team playing a minimum of three competitive soft ball or hard ball fixtures in league, friendly, indoor or outdoor cricket in 2025/2026, as recorded on Play-Cricket.com.
• Girls’ Only Cricket: a minimum of one girls’ team playing a minimum of three competitive soft ball or hard ball fixtures in league, friendly, indoor or outdoor cricket in 2025/2026, as recorded on Play-Cricket.com.
• Girls’ Only Dynamos Cricket: Clubs delivering a Dynamos Cricket programme specifically for girls in 2025/2026, as registered on ClubSpark.
• Dynamos Cricket for Girls Activation Clubs: Dynamos Cricket for Girls delivered by Clubs which have been selected by their Recreational Cricket Board (RCB) or Cricket Foundation (CF) to deliver Dynamos Cricket for Girls in 2025/2026 that specifically leads to the creation of girls’ teams at the selected Clubs, as registered on ClubSpark.
• Disability Cricket: a registered Disability Champion Cricket Club or a registered host for the Disability Premier League in 2025/2026.

Clubs can typically apply for between £1,000 (minimum) and £15,000 (maximum) per application. For larger scale Enhanced Changing Facilities (projects over £30,000), grants up to £50,000 will be available. These projects will be required to meet Sport England Accessible and Inclusive Sports Facilities Design Guidance

ECB County Grants Fund Guidance Notes 2026

ECB County Grants Fund FAQ’s for Clubs 2026

We would welcome discussions with clubs looking to make applications to the fund. To make us aware of your plans and for support on your projects please contact clubsupport@cambscricket.org.uk in the first instance

Please note that the Tackling Climate Change Theme is no longer available. It is hoped that a new Sustainability Club Fund will launch in 2026

The closing date for applications is 30th September 2026

EWCT Interest Free Loan Scheme

The England and Wales Cricket Trust (EWCT) Interest Free Loan Scheme provides finance to clubs for capital projects to help them build and ensure a sustainable future.

All scheme applicants must demonstrate that funds will be used to benefit the general community and not just a small group.

Who can apply?

• All ECB affiliated cricket clubs
• Other organisations that can evidence achievement/delivery of the EWCT’s charitable aims

ECB Clubmark registration or accreditation is not a requirement when applying.

What projects are eligible?

Buildings:

• Changing room development
• Clubhouse renovation
• Social area development
• Machinery store
• Score box
• Improvement in car parking facilities (for cricket purposes only)
• CCTV/security shutters (specifically to protect cricket buildings)
• Outdoor lighting (for security purposes)
• Energy consumption/saving systems
• Water consumption/saving systems
• Flood defence measures

Equipment purchase:

• Machinery
• Covers
• Sightscreens
• Scoreboard
• Mobile net cages
• Security/protection (perimeter fencing/ball stop netting)

Fine turf:

• Square
• Outfield
• Drainage/irrigation
• Flood defence measures

Want to know more? Have a look at ECB’s technical guidance on fine turf.

Land purchase:

• For cricketing purposes only

Non-turf:

• Non-turf practice facilities
• Match play pitches

Want to know more? Have a look at ECB’s technical guidance and list of ECB approved non-turf pitch systems and suppliers.

How to apply

1. Download and read the EWCT Interest Free Loan Scheme guidance notes (PDF)
2. Can you answer yes to the following questions?

a) Is your club/organisation eligible to apply to the scheme?

b) Is the project you are considering eligible?

1. If yes to both, please visit ims.ecb.co.uk to register and apply

How much can be applied for?

• Cricket clubs with a junior section* – £1,000 – £50,000
• Cricket clubs without a junior section – £1,000 – £20,000
• Other organisations – subject to application

* A cricket club with a junior section is defined as “a cricket club that offers appropriate coaching and competition to cricketers under the age of 18 years”.

How much partnership funding is required?

A minimum of 10% partnership funding is required from the applicant.

About the England and Wales Cricket Trust

The EWCT supports community participation in cricket as a means of promoting and improving health – which is a charitable purpose.

In addition, the EWCT promotes work to improve provision of cricket in schools, clubs and other youth cricket activities. Activities funded by the EWCT must benefit the wider community, not just a small group or elite. This is a primary obligation of an applicant when applying for the funds provided by EWCT.

For more info please visit https://www.ecb.co.uk/play/club-support/club-funding/interest-free-loan-scheme

Sport England Movement Fund

Sport England offer grants of up to £15,000 for physical activity projects in the community. The focus is on people who face barriers to participate and projects designed to help them join in

You can apply for projects to get more people active like:

1. Setting up new experiences or activity sessions for people to get involved
2. Helping improve or create new spaces for people to be active in- or providing the equipment they need to do the activity
3. Improving both environmental sustainability and providing physical activity opportunities
4. Supporting organisations to build their capacity and capability so they can help the people in their community to be active
5. Responding to emergencies that impact on people taking part in physical activity, and helping get activity happening again

For more information please visit https://www.sportengland.org/funding-and-campaigns/our-funding/movement-fund

Crowdfunder

Crowdfunding represents an opportunity for clubs to generate income to support projects they are looking to undertake.

There is up to £10,000 available for cricket clubs and organisations turning to crowdfunding to raise money.

It’s designed for clubs experiencing financial difficulty due to Covid-19 or the emerging energy, cost of living or other local crises.

To date, more than £2 million has been invested into the game with £1 million of extra funding from Sport England.

Match funding aims to help clubs to move forward with priority projects and running costs that they might still be struggling with such as:

• facility refurbishments, maintenance and improvements, or adapting a facility to ensure a safe return to play.

• running new activity to meet demand, helping a community to recover.

• unforeseen events such as fire, theft, vandalism or adverse weather.

• changing a facility to lower their energy consumption.

Further details on eligible projects, the benefits of crowdfunding and some successful projects already completed by cricket clubs can be seen on the document below

For support from us on Crowdfunding please email clubsupport@cambscricket.org.uk in the first instance

DOCUMENT- Crowdfunder Comms Pack