County Grant Fund
Improving facilities and the environmental sustainability of cricket clubs.What is the County Grant Fund?
The ECB County Grants Fund aims to support cricket clubs in creating welcoming environments and providing enhanced playing, training, and changing facilities.
Eligible clubs can apply for between £1,000 (minimum) and £15,000 (maximum) per application.
What type of projects are eligible in each theme?
1. Creating welcoming environments
- Social Space – furniture / flooring / patio / decking / heating / glazing
- Female / Disabled Toilet Facilities – sanitaryware / vanity units / tiling / flooring / baby changing units / mirrors / hand dryers
- Catering – kitchen units / professional catering equipment & appliances / barbecues
- Arrival and Access – disabled access / exterior lighting / signage / car park
- Digitising – WiFi hardware (excludes subscription fees) / TVs / PA or Music systems / Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS) equipment / Electronic Scoreboards (only if part of a wider digitisation project)
2. Enhanced Playing Facilities
- ECB Approved Non-Turf Match Pitch (min 30m)
- ECB Approved Non-Turf Practice Facility (min 26m)
All NTP projects, including refurbishments, must come with a full warranty from the supplier for a named ECB-approved NTP System.
3. Enhanced Changing Facilities
- Changing room refurbishment and/or extensions
- Individual shower spaces with drying areas
- Improved toilet provision – sanitaryware / vanity units / tiling / flooring
- Grooming points – mirrors / hand dryers / hair dryers
- Personal possession lockers
- For larger scale Enhanced Changing Facilities (projects over £30,000), grants up to £50,000 will be available. These projects will be required to meet Sport England Accessible and Inclusive Sports Facilities Design Guidance – Section D (see link in Section 13 of the Guidance notes).
Case studies of completed projects in Gloucestershire
2025 Funding Breakdown
- Expressions of interest: 47.
- Supported clubs: 14.
- Initial budget: £114,000.00
- Grants awarded: £117,337.00 (extended due to positive track record with ECB).
- Total project costs of supported projects: £235,581.00
Funded projects in 2025
How to apply
The ECB County Grant Fund will be open from the 24th February 2026, and we encourage clubs to follow the steps below:
Clubs should consult their membership to identify a project that fits within one of the three themes.
Clubs to make contact with Harry Watts to arrange a meeting with the Foundation at your club to discuss and walk us through your project.
From February 2026 – Submit your application on the ECB’s Investment Management System (IMS).
Initial expression of interest deadline – Sunday 15th March 2026.
Questions To Ask Before Applying
- Does our project require Planning Permission/Permitted Development rights?
- Get clarity on this as soon as possible! If in doubt, please get in touch.
- Can my project realistically be completed before the 30th November?
- This is the GCF deadline for project completion.
- This deadline does not apply for larger scale changing room projects (call to discuss).
- Do we have secured partnership funding to cover the total project costs?
- In the past, clubs have had their funding withdrawn due to an inability to find partnership funding.
- If the total project cost is under £25,000, have we got two like-for-like quotes?
- Three quotes are needed for projects over £25,000.
- Have we read the guidance notes?
- This will take time, but will ensure clubs aren’t met with an unexpected surprise during this process.
- Have we consulted with our committee and membership?
- This will ensure that clubs apply for a project that is meaningful for its community.
Harry Watts / Club Development Manager
Harry joined the team in August 2022 as our Urban Development Officer and was initially responsible for growing the game of cricket in the urban areas of Bristol and Gloucester. In April 2024, Harry was promoted to Club Development Manager where he now delivers on a number of ECB priority areas including Facility Development, Clubmark, as well as working with Local Authorities on their Playing Pitch Strategies.
In 2018, Harry graduated from Swansea University with a degree in Media & Communications and later gained a PGCE in Primary Education from UWE, having spent multiple years working in primary schools. At his local club, Thornbury CC, Harry supports in different areas, including being an emergency player when required!
Now in his exciting role as Club Development Manager, he is responsible for leading the team of club development staff and working closely with cricket clubs across the county to provide direct support with the aim of creating sustainable clubs for the future. Furthermore, Harry leads youth competitions and the ECB Clubmark Accreditation and sits on a number of GCF Development Groups and Committees.
As a local Bristolian, Harry is a Bristol Rovers supporter and is a big all-round sports fan.