England And Wales Cricket Trust

Charity Number: 1112540

Annual Expenditure: £26.1M

Stay updated on changes from England And Wales Cricket Trust and other funders

Get daily notifications about new funding opportunities, deadline changes, and programme updates from UK funders.

Free Email Updates

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £27,199,575 (year ending 31 January 2025)
  • Decision Time: Up to 30 working days after application submission
  • Grant Range: £1,000 - £10,000 (County Grants Fund)
  • Loan Range: £1,000 - £50,000 (Interest-Free Loan Scheme)
  • Geographic Focus: Throughout England and Wales
  • Application Method: Rolling basis with three annual rounds
  • Charity Number: 1112540

Contact Details

Website: https://www.ecb.co.uk/play/club-support/club-funding/

Email: nimet.nathani@ecb.co.uk

Phone: 020 7432 1200

Application Portal: https://ims.ecb.co.uk/

Pre-Application Support: Clubs should contact their local County Cricket Board (CCB) Club Development Officer (CDO) before applying to discuss projects and ensure eligibility.

Overview

The England and Wales Cricket Trust (EWCT) was incorporated on 17 June 2005 as a company limited by guarantee and registered charity. Established as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the Trust exists to promote community participation in healthy recreation by providing facilities for playing cricket and to advance other charitable purposes recognized under English and Welsh law through cricket-related activities.

With annual expenditure exceeding £27 million and total income of £29 million, the EWCT is one of the UK's most substantial sport-focused grant-makers. The Trust's strategic approach focuses on three key priorities: creating welcoming environments at cricket clubs, providing enhanced facilities and playing opportunities for women's, girls', and disability cricket, and helping clubs tackle climate change. No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity, ensuring all resources support grassroots cricket development.

Since the County Grants Fund's inception, the Trust has supported hundreds of clubs across England and Wales. For example, in Wiltshire alone since 2022, affiliated clubs have received £211,000 of investment across 33 different projects, while in Kent over three years, the CGF issued grant offers to more than 60 projects with a combined value exceeding £1,000,000.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

County Grants Fund (CGF): £1,000 - £10,000 per application

The flagship grant programme operates on a rolling basis with three annual rounds. Clubs may apply for up to one grant per ECB budget year. Applications accepted 1 February - 30 November annually, with all projects requiring completion by 31 January of the following year.

Interest-Free Loan Scheme: £1,000 - £50,000

  • Clubs with junior sections: up to £50,000
  • Clubs without junior sections: up to £20,000
  • Repayment period: up to five years
  • Applications through the Investment Management System on a rolling basis

Small Grant Scheme: Amount not specified

Helps clubs make small but vital changes to support long-term sustainability. Priority given to clubs engaged with ECB national programmes (Get the Game On, All Stars Cricket, Women's Cricket, U19 Club T20).

Priority Areas

The County Grants Fund operates across three key themes:

1. Creating Welcoming Environments

Open to ECB-affiliated cricket clubs registered for All Stars or Dynamos in 2025, actively involved with competitive female cricket (minimum one female team with at least three competitive female fixtures), and/or registered Disability Champion Cricket Clubs. Funded projects include:

  • Pavilion social spaces and patio areas
  • Digital point-of-sale equipment
  • Improved toilet facilities
  • Outdoor social spaces
  • WiFi improvements

2. Enhanced Facilities and Playing Opportunities for Women's, Girls', and Disability Cricket

Open to clubs actively engaged in competitive female-only cricket and/or disability cricket. Funded projects include:

  • New practice facilities and outdoor net facilities
  • Improved women's changing facilities
  • Replacement of 25-year-old practice facilities
  • Enhanced clubhouse facilities specifically for women and girls

3. Tackling Climate Change

Open to any ECB-affiliated cricket club. Eligible projects include:

  • Energy-saving measures: insulation, LED lighting, solar PV, solar thermal
  • Energy-efficient heating systems
  • Electric mowers or rollers
  • Off-grid electrical supply
  • Improved water efficiency

Interest-Free Loan Scheme Priorities:

  • Buildings: changing room development, clubhouse renovation, social areas, machinery stores, score boxes, parking, security systems
  • Equipment: machinery, covers, sightscreens, scoreboards, mobile net cages, perimeter fencing
  • Grounds: square and outfield work, drainage, irrigation, non-turf practice facilities and match play pitches
  • Land purchase for cricket purposes

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the EWCT requires that:

  • Projects must benefit the general community and not just a small group
  • Clubs must be ECB-affiliated
  • For theme-specific grants, clubs must meet the relevant criteria (e.g., active women's teams for women's and girls' theme)
  • Projects not aligned with the three strategic themes are unlikely to receive County Grants Fund support
Helpful Hinchilla

Ready to write a winning application for England And Wales Cricket Trust?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Get Free Beta Access

Governance and Leadership

The England and Wales Cricket Trust is governed by 8 trustees, though specific names are not publicly listed in recent filings. The Trust maintains strong governance principles with clear accountability:

  • No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity
  • The Trust is incorporated with a Memorandum and Articles of Association (17 June 2005, amended 15 January 2020)
  • The England and Wales Cricket Board acts as a £1 guarantor and treats the Trust as a wholly-owned subsidiary for group accounts

The Trust's charitable expenditure has increased significantly over the past decade, with charitable payments over the period 2014-2024 increasing by over 200% compared to 150% for other non-charitable administrative expenses, demonstrating a clear commitment to maximizing funds directed to cricket development.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

County Grants Fund - Two-Stage Process:

Stage 1: Expression of Interest (EOI)

  • Contact your local County Cricket Board Club Development Officer (CDO) before starting your application
  • Complete the EOI through the Investment Management System (IMS) at https://ims.ecb.co.uk/
  • County staff will provide feedback on EOIs within 10 working days
  • Submit EOI at least 2 weeks before the full application deadline to ensure sufficient time for Stage 2
  • Have project costs, partnership funding, and any planning requirements in place before completing the EOI

Stage 2: Full Application

  • If EOI is successful, complete the full application with supporting evidence
  • Submit through IMS before the round deadline

Interest-Free Loan Scheme:

  • Download and read the EWCT Interest-Free Loan Scheme guidance notes from the ECB website
  • Confirm eligibility and project suitability
  • Download, complete, and return the expression of interest form
  • Register and apply via https://ims.ecb.co.uk/

Small Grant Scheme:

  • Contact your local County Cricket Board to obtain application forms and guidance notes

Application Deadlines (2025 County Grants Fund)

Round One:

  • EOI Deadline: 10 March 2025
  • Full Application Deadline: 16 April 2025

Round Two:

  • EOI Deadline: 19 May 2025
  • Full Application Deadline: 23 June 2025

Round Three:

  • EOI Deadline: 17 July 2025
  • Full Application Deadline: 4 August 2025

Note: Interest-Free Loans are available on a rolling basis throughout the year.

Decision Timeline

  • County staff provide feedback on EOIs within 10 working days
  • Final grant offer decisions can take up to 30 working days after the full application is forwarded to the ECB
  • Projects must be completed and grants claimed by 31 January 2026 (for 2025 applications)

Success Rates

While specific success rate percentages are not published, applicants should be aware that:

  • Competition is significant: “Enquiries have been received for more than double the available budget” in some counties
  • Devon Cricket Foundation assisted 50 club projects to obtain grant funding exceeding £400,000 since 2021
  • In Wiltshire, 33 projects received £211,000 since 2022
  • In Kent, more than 60 projects received funding over three years with a combined value exceeding £1,000,000
  • The Trust explicitly states: “Not all applications will be successful even if all criteria set out above are met”

Reapplication Policy

  • Clubs may apply for up to one grant per ECB budget year (1 February - 31 January)
  • There is no explicit information about unsuccessful applicants reapplying in subsequent years
  • The rolling nature of the Interest-Free Loan Scheme suggests clubs can apply when timing is appropriate

Application Success Factors

Funder-Specific Guidance

The EWCT and County Cricket Boards provide clear guidance on what makes applications successful:

Essential Requirements (Application will be rejected without these):

  • A constitution, articles of association, or equivalent governing document
  • Valid buildings, contents, and public liability insurance
  • Security of tenure: leasehold, freehold, or rental (minimum one year)
  • A bank account in the club's name
  • Financial accounts from the last three years
  • Adoption of the ECB Safe Hands Policy
  • Adoption of the ECB Inclusion and Diversity Policy
  • Minimum 10% partnership funding - the Trust states “A club must as a minimum be putting 10% of the project cost in themselves or it will be rejected by our award panel”

Critical Success Factors from County Boards:

As Cricket Yorkshire advises: “Writing funding bids is a particular skill” - successful applicants:

  • Clearly define outcomes and demonstrate realistic impact - avoid vague language; provide specific, measurable outcomes
  • Ensure costs align with project scope - budgets must be realistic and well-researched
  • Match delivery timelines to ECB funding cycles - projects must be completable by 31 January deadline

From Lancashire Cricket Foundation:

  • Provide specific, measurable outcomes - the Trust wants to see exactly how your project will benefit the community
  • Include your Club Development Plan - demonstrates strategic thinking
  • Gather strong supporting evidence - quotes, contractor estimates, community need assessments
  • Set realistic budgets and contractor timelines
  • Collaborate with club members on the application - shows buy-in and sustainability

Pre-Application Consultation is Critical:

Multiple sources emphasize: “Contact your Cricket Development Officer before applying” and “arrange a club visit with your Club Development Officer to discuss your potential project before beginning an Expression of Interest.” The Trust values this consultation and it significantly improves application quality.

Timing Advice:

  • Submit EOIs at least 2 weeks before full application deadlines
  • Don't rush: “While timing matters, moving too quickly produces weaker applications. Balance urgency with thorough preparation”
  • However, don't delay too long: as one advisor warns, “that boat will have sailed”

Partnership Funding:

“Partnership funding is welcomed and may positively influence the grant decision.” Clubs demonstrating higher than the 10% minimum show strong commitment.

Demonstrating Community Benefit:

For the Interest-Free Loan Scheme specifically: “All scheme applicants must demonstrate that funds will be used to benefit the general community and not just a small group.” This reflects the Trust's charitable mission.

Examples of Successful Projects

Creating Welcoming Environments:

  • Shapwick and Polden Cricket Club (Somerset): Funded a new patio to create a welcoming environment for club members
  • Clumber Park CC: Received funding for a pavilion facelift

Women's and Girls' Cricket:

  • Long Sutton Cricket Club (Somerset): Replaced 25-year-old practice facility to provide a safer practice area for their growing women and girls' section
  • Wells Cricket Club (Somerset): New outdoor net facility to help continue growing their girls' and women's offering

Climate Change:

  • Multiple clubs received funding for energy-saving projects, provision of off-grid electrical supply
  • Electric mowers funded across various counties
  • LED lighting and solar panel installations

Mixed Projects:

  • Pavilion social spaces
  • Digital point-of-sale equipment
  • Outdoor net facilities
  • Improved toilet facilities
  • Outdoor social spaces
  • WiFi improvements
  • Improved water efficiency
  • Improved women's changing facilities
  • Catering equipment upgrades
  • Replacement of non-turf pitches

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Pre-application consultation is non-negotiable - Contact your County Cricket Board Club Development Officer before starting any application. This is repeatedly emphasized and significantly improves success rates.
  • Partnership funding matters - While 10% is the minimum, higher contributions “may positively influence the grant decision.” Demonstrate financial commitment to your project.
  • Competition is fierce - Some counties receive enquiries for more than double the available budget. As Cricket Yorkshire states: “competition for cricket grants in 2025 is going to be fierce” - applicants must “give it everything.”
  • Alignment with ECB programmes strengthens applications - Clubs actively engaged with All Stars, Dynamos, women's and girls' cricket, or disability cricket receive priority. Demonstrate active participation, not just registration.
  • Specific, measurable outcomes win - Avoid vague promises. The Trust wants to see exactly how your project will create impact with clear metrics and evidence.
  • Time your application strategically - Submit EOIs at least 2 weeks before full application deadlines, but don't wait too long as budgets are limited and allocated on a first-come-first-served basis within rounds.
  • Community benefit is essential - Particularly for loans, demonstrate how your project benefits the wider community, not just club members. This aligns with the Trust's charitable mission.
  • Interest-Free Loans offer substantial support - Up to £50,000 interest-free over five years is a significant benefit for larger capital projects. Don't overlook this option if grant funding isn't sufficient.

🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.

Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.

✓

Data privacy and security by default

✓

Your organisation's past successful grants and experience

✓

AI analysis of what reviewers want to see

✓

A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours

Get Beta Access NowLearn More

References