CLUBS HAVE CHANCE TO SAVE THEIR FUTURES WITH £5k COMPETITION REWARD

TIME is running out for struggling sports teams to apply for a £5,000 grant which could help them survive the pandemic. The charity Made By Sport have launched a ‘Clubs in Crisis’ competition to help the fight to save grassroots sport. Three organisations will be awarded £5,000 each to help cover the costs of the second lockdown and to ensure they can carry on playing in the future. The competition runs until Monday, December 21 and Made By Sport want clubs to share how Covid has affected the community and their ability to support young people. Justin King, chairman of Made by Sport, said: ‘The impact of closing sports centres and clubs must not be underestimated. ‘Whether it is the long-term prospects of the clubs themselves or the physical and mental decline of those who can no longer play the sport they love, they play a crucial role up and down the country. ‘They are in every single town and village across the UK. We need them. They deliver far more than just sport.’ The charity raises awareness about the power of sport to change lives and communities. Research shows that every £1 spent on grassroots sport and physical activity generates nearly £4 for the economy. Over a year, this equates to more than £85billion. Research by Made By Sport found that more than 40 per cent of our 150,000-plus clubs were already walking a financial tightrope before the pandemic and around a quarter may not survive the turmoil caused by Covid-19. The majority of those organisations most at risk are in the UK’s most deprived areas, with Made By Sport estimating that more than two million young people will be affected.

The competition is underway and will close on December 21, 2020. To enter, visit madebysport.com/clubs-in-crisis-competition