Northumberland sporting facilities affected by the floods can apply to @Sport_England Flood Relief Fund: www.sportengland.org/floodfund

I am writing to let you know how Sport England is joining the effort to support communities in Northumberland which have been affected by the recent flooding. There is a very detailed amount of advice to sports clubs that my office can send through or which is available direct from Sport England on their website or by calling 08458 508 508

People cleaning up and repairing sports pitches and facilities in areas damaged by Storm Desmond can apply for new National Lottery funding to help them get back up and running quickly.

Sport England has created a special £200,000 emergency flood relief fund to help restore pitches and repair sports facilities damaged by the rising water and gales. The funding is available to sports clubs, local authorities and other community sports organisations to help pay for emergency repairs to damaged facilities such as football, rugby and cricket pitches, water sports centres, pavilions, changing rooms and floodlights. Financial support can be provided in as little as three weeks. 

Sport isn’t a major priority when people’s lives, homes and businesses are at risk. 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.  We have launched this fund quickly to help with clean up and repair costs, hopefully giving people affected by the floods one less thing to worry about.

I recommend that you go to the website: www.sportengland.org/floodfund
The application process has been designed to be as quick and simple as possible for applicants. The fund will remain open until 1 February 2016 (they will keep this date under review) to ensure that those who are currently unable to assess the damage will not lose out.
More information about Sport England’s Flood Relief Fund

The £200,000 emergency flood relief fund is to help restore pitches and repair sports facilities damaged by the rising water and gales. 

Work that will typically be funded includes:

• Grass pitch restoration
• Clubhouse decontamination and repairs
• Replacement of damaged/condemned electrical systems
• Steam cleaning, de-silting of drains.

Sport England launched a similar fund in early 2014 following the devastating floods that affected communities throughout England. Over 250 local sports facilities were helped, including Gloucester All Blues Rugby Football Club which used the funding to restore their clubhouse, Ashton on Mersey Cricket and Tennis Club which used their grant to complete roof and guttering repairs and Hull City Council which used the funding to restore playing fields in the city.