Norfolk Cricket Board – Coronavirus Update

As you will all know, recreational cricket has been suspended across England & Wales until further notice due to the Coronavirus pandemic. This includes all NCB recreational activity with the exception of emails, phone calls and video calls from NCB staff who continue to work from home. The NCB are committed to support cricket clubs and leagues over the coming days/weeks/months during the Coronavirus period.

Please see below the latest updates on Funding, Grounds Maintenance and Welfare. Please continue to follow government advice and stay safe during this difficult period.

Government Financial Support

ECB/NCB encourage all clubs experiencing financial difficulty to explore all funding/grant oppurtunities to help them remain sustainable during this period.

Government initiatives: Business Rates holiday, Job Retention Scheme, VAT deferral, Statutory Sick Pay Rebate, HMRC Time to Pay Scheme, Business Interruption Loan Scheme.

Sport England 195m Package

Sport England released a £195 million package last week to help sport and physical activity through coronavirus.

Community Emergency Pot
This includes a 20m Community Emergency Pot which is open for clubs and community organisations to bid into. Grants between £300 and £10,000 are available.

ECB Support Package – 61m Interim Support Package

Last week, The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced a £61 million package to help cricket withstand the financial impact of COVID-19.

This includes more than £20m available in interest-free loans and grants to recreational clubs.

Details on this scheme will be made available to clubs in the next few weeks. For clubs with immediate financial concern, they should explore Government / Local Council / Sport England funding.

The GMA (formally IOG) have been working closely with various National Governing Bodies including the ECB to offer advice and guidance on what works may be possible to be carried out throughout this period, and, what works may be required once sport resumes.

The latest advice is that volunteers should follow latest Government guidelines and not put themselves or others at risk. If work is completed then government guidelines on social distancing and safety should be adhered to at all times.