Sport England makes £200k available for storm-hit facilities

Sports clubs which have seen their facilities and pitches destroyed by Storm Desmond can apply for a slice of an emergency £200,000 fund created by Sport England

The money, which is coming from National Lottery funding, is available to sports clubs, local authorities and other community sports organisations to help pay for repairs.

Facilities in Cumbria, Lancashire and Northumberland are among the worst affected, with rugby, football and hockey suffering because of waterlogged pitches.

Applications for the fund can be submitted until 1 February 2016, and financial support can be provided within three weeks. The money can go towards grass pitch restoration, clubhouse decontamination and repairs, replacement of damaged electrical systems, and steam cleaning of drains.

Those that need funding quickly can request an emergency £5,000 (US$7,559, €6,892) grant through Sport England's online application service. Organisations that do not qualify will be given advice about alternative sources of funding.

Jennie Price, Sport England chief executive, said the fund will give "people affected by the floods one less thing to worry about".

"We appreciate that sport isn't a major priority when people's lives, homes and businesses are at risk," she added. "But once communities are starting to get their lives back to normal, being able to use their local pitch or sports club as usual can make a real difference."

For the full article, visit sportsmanagement.co.uk.