The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) today has launched the Grass Pitch Improvement Fund, which will help cricket to tackle inequalities around access to safe, good quality grass cricket pitches across England and Wales.
With our backing and National Lottery funding, £5 million will go to grassroots facilities over three years with the first £1 million being available in 2024.
This will enable around 250 clubs and cricket organisations to upgrade their facilities and encourage more people to take up the sport.
The ECB's ambition is for cricket to become the most inclusive team sport in the UK and the launch of the Grass Pitch Improvement Fund aligns with the ECB’s strategy for investment in schools.
The fund will be directed at improving unsafe or inadequate pitches in areas that need it most and it’ll also support women's and girls' cricket, cricket in diverse communities, disability cricket and cricket in lower socioeconomic areas.
Our executive director of partnerships, Phil Smith, said:
“The ECB’s aim to get different kinds of people – including women and girls, disabled people and people from diverse communities – playing cricket reflects the heart of Uniting the Movement, our 10-year strategy.
“Our ambition is for everyone to have the opportunity to get active and play the sport they choose, regardless of who they are or where they live.
“Improving local cricket facilities and pitches will give more people the chance to get involved and enjoy the incredible benefits of sport within their communities.”
Successful applicants will then receive a grant from the ECB, enabling their projects to upgrade squares and outfields and give clubs the tools they need to manage their ground in future.