BARLA SUPPORT LOCAL CLUBS

RUGBY LEAGUE: BARLA have offered more potential support to community clubs during the current suspension of rugby league activity, inviting them to apply for a share of an initial £50,000 fund.

Grants of between

£100 and £1000 are available, with the fund to be administered jointly by BARLA and the RFL – and the potential for a further £25,000 to be released depending on the number of applications.

Clubs will be asked initially to complete a

Club Health Check and then to complete an application form providing an explanation of what the fund will be used for.

All clubs are encouraged to apply, although in the first instance these will be open to the BARLA member clubs.

Sue Taylor, the BARLA Chair, said: “We are aware that community clubs are experiencing some real financial difficulties whilst we are in this lockdown period.

“BARLA are keen to help clubs during this time and are delighted to be able to offer support.”

Clubs interested in applying for financial support should email competitions@rfl. uk.com for an application form.

BARLA’s offer comes with the Sport England Community Emergency Fund, which was set up in the early stages of the lockdown, temporarily paused for new applicants to allow Sport England to work through the backlog of those who have already applied.

The initial fund of £20m has been increased to £35m.

More than 60 community rugby league clubs have already made successful applications for support from Sport England.