Lancashire Cricket Foundation is pleased to provide details of the ECB County Grants Fund (CGF) for 2025
The Lancashire Cricket Foundation (LCF) is pleased to notify all affiliated clubs that the ECB County Grant Fund is now open. The ECB County Grant Fund aims to support affiliated cricket clubs to create welcoming environments, provide enhanced facilities and playing opportunities, and to help clubs tackle the impact of climate change. The scheme is open to all ECB affiliated cricket clubs in England and Wales. Clubs can apply for between £1,000 (minimum) and £10,000 (maximum) per application. The funding is aligned to three key themes:-
Creating Welcoming Environments – open to ECB affiliated Cricket Clubs registered for All Stars or Dynamos in 2025, and/or actively involved with competitive female cricket (defined as at least one female team with a minimum of three competitive female fixtures in the 2025 season) and/or Disability Cricket (defined as being a registered Disability Champion Cricket Club in 2025 or a registered host for the Disability Premier League). It is an expectation that any junior programme will include and actively engage with girls.
Providing Enhanced Facilities and Playing Opportunities for Women’s and Girls’ Cricket and/ or Disability Cricket – open to ECB affiliated Cricket Clubs actively engaged in competitive female only cricket and/or disability cricket (definitions as above).
Tackling Climate Change – open to any ECB affiliated Cricket Clubs
The following are key pieces of information to help all clubs when considering submitting an application:-
Do
* Before starting an application contact your Cricket Development Officer to discuss your project in more detail, ensure eligibility and the likelihood of your application being approved/successful.
* Read the CGF guidance document here
* If you are applying for a changing room project, read the ECB’s guidance document here
* Clubs must have plans drawn up that meet ECB requirements and share with your local CDO
* Be clear and concise in detailing the impact outcomes of your project
* Carefully consider your supporting evidence – this is an integral piece of successful applications
* Ensure contractor timelines are realistic in relation to Lancashire Cricket Foundations grant decision periods
* Ensure your project is well throughout and that the club can facilitate the desired outcomes with post-project management plans
* Ensure the project meets the needs of the club and the wider community – ensuring this in in line with your Club Development Plan
* Applications must include your clubs Development Plan
DON’T
* Rush your application
* Submit an incomplete application
* Suggest the project will benefit other organisations without evidence of consultation with those organisations
* Be vague with outcomes e.g. ‘a long-term aim is to introduce a female pathway’, instead be specific and measurable e.g. ‘the club will introduce an U9 & U11 female team in the 2025 season, and introduce two new age groups in 2026 and 2027’.
* Work on the application alone – allocate and seek advise from others at your club
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
* Set a realistic budget – base designs around a simple, functional easy-to-manage facility.
2025 COUNTY GRANT FUNDING TIMELINES
Funding Round One
- Applications open 1st February via the ECB’s Investment Management System
- 10th March - EOI Deadline
- 11thMarch - Reviewed by Panel. If successful clubs will be invited to submit a full application.
- 16th April - Full submission deadline with all the supporting information to be eligible for first round of allocation reviews.
Funding Round Two
- Applications open 1st February via the ECB’s Investment Management System
- 19th May - EOI Deadline
- 20th May- Reviewed by Panel. If successful clubs will be invited to submit a full application.
- 23rd June - Full submission deadline with all the supporting information to be eligible for first round of allocation reviews.