Sport England Protecting Playing Fields
Protecting Playing Fields is part of Sport England's mass participation strategy Places People Play. The fund will invest £10 million into community sport between 2011 and 2013. Sport England intends to fund projects for playing field improvements that will contribute to both retaining and increasing participation in sport across England. The fund will improve the condition of existing playing fields, bring disused playing fields back into use, create playing field land and offer support to those looking to protect playing fields.
Eligible activity
Examples of eligible activity include the purchase of new land for new playing fields and or disused playing fields. Alternatively funding can be used for levelling, drainage, reseeding and realignment of existing playing fields.
All eligible projects must have partnership funding, have a needs evidence base and be completed within 2 years of the date of the award.
Exclusions
Funding cannot be used for legal costs, the cost of equipment or revenue elements such as annual ground maintenance.
This fund will support competitive sport and requests for training areas will be a low priority.
Projects that have already started are not eligible for this fund.
Who can apply
Applicants must be eligible to receive public funding such as sports clubs, local authorities, education establishments, voluntary or community organisations and playing field associations.
Only certain sports can apply. Please visit the Sport England (see below) for a list of eligible sports.
Organisations must own or intend to own the freehold or have a lease for a certain amount of time. Please visit the Sport England website for more information
Available funding
The programme provides grants from £20,000 to a maximum of £50,000.
Deadlines
Round 1 opens on 23 May 2011 and closes on 4 July 2011.
Round 2 opens on 24 October 2011 and closes on 12 December 2011.
Details of further rounds will appear on the Sport England website at a later date.
Contact details
http://www.sportengland.org/funding/protecting_playing_fields.aspx
