Latest News from the ECB 23-04-20

We have a number of areas to update you on this week, details of which can be found below. We hope that you are continuing to find these updates useful.

Ruth Strauss Foundation - 26 Challenge

The Ruth Strauss Foundation is taking part in a nationwide charity campaign, the #twopointsixchallenge to raise money for charities that are struggling to survive in this uncertain time.

The 26 ball tap challenge set by Sir Andrew Strauss, invites the cricket family to get a bat and ball – or orange and saucepan - and tap it up 26 times!

Film your effort, share it using #RSF26Challenge and get your friends and family involved. Most importantly, if you are able, please donate to the Ruth Strauss Foundation cause during this difficult time.

The Ruth Strauss Foundation is also showing a live 26 minute YouTube Family Fitness Show on Sunday 26th April at 11am, hosted by Piers Morgan where all families are invited to take part. Piers will be joined by sporting legends including: Sir Andrew Strauss, Freddie Flintoff, Clare Balding, David Haye, Kevin Pietersen, Jamie Redknapp, Tim Henman and Will Greenwood and the event will include the UK’s biggest #RSF26Challenge.

Join live via the RSF YouTube page here. ACT NOW to save the UK’s charities

ECB Emergency Support Programmes

Last week we shared with you details of the ECB Emergency Loan Scheme and Return to Cricket Grant Scheme for clubs and Leagues. Details can be found here.

If you have any questions regarding these schemes, please contact the relevant email below:

• Emergency Loan Scheme – lcfcontact@lancashirecricket.co.uk  
• Return to Cricket Grant Scheme –  lcfcontact@lancashirecricket.co.uk

England and Wales Cricket Trust (EWCT) Interest Free Loan Scheme

The EWCT Interest Free Loan Scheme remains open to eligible clubs providing finance for capital projects (including machinery). Please continue to signpost clubs to the scheme if they make enquiries to you. Further information about the EWCT Interest Free Loan Scheme can be found here.

This scheme is separate to the Emergency Loan Scheme and is not administered through ECB’s Investment Management System.

Community Amateur Sports Clubs

We are aware that many Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) and charities have suspended the collection of membership subscriptions in light of the COVID-19 pandemic but some individuals are making voluntary donations instead in order to support their club.

It is worthwhile reminding you that that there is no barrier to Gift Aid being claimed on such donations, provided they are freely given, no benefits arise in consequence of that specific donation (either now or in the future) or, if provided, they fall within the legislative limits, and a Gift Aid Declaration is obtained.

In circumstances where clubs have reduced their subscription rate, any amounts freely donated over and above this reduced amount would also potentially be eligible for Gift Aid. In all cases it must made clear to the members that the amounts voluntarily given by them are not subscriptions, carry no subscription rights and will be treated as donations on which the CASC or charity will claim Gift Aid.

The personal tax implications of making a Gift Aid donation will also need to be explained to donors.

Find out more here. 

Spacehive Fundraising during COVID-19

To support the Grants and Loan Schemes which were launched last week, we are delighted to share with you an update in relation to our crowdfunding initiative with Spacehive. Whilst historically, the Spacehive initiative was only available to Dynamos Cricket clubs, we have now opened this to all clubs and will be providing all clubs who raise £100 towards supporting with COVID-19 activities with a further £100.  

The Opportunity:

• Create a crowdfunding campaign on Spacehive to support your club during the COVID-19 crisis (if clubs still wish to raise for future Dynamos projects as originally anticipated that offer is still available)  
• ECB will help get your campaign off to a flying start by pledging £100 as soon as your campaign goes live
• Raise at least £100 more to lock in the ECB pledge

How it works:

• Sign up to the Spacehive platform here
• Set up your crowdfunding page by May 14th. The Spacehive team will be on hand to guide you through this process.  
• The ECB pledge will appear as soon as your campaign is live
• Run your crowdfunding campaign throughout May and June
• Receive the money you raise in your bank by end of June

Clubs already using Spacehive:  

You can either continue with your existing campaign and ring fence the funds for the Dynamos Cricket programme when it happens, or you can start a new campaign around supporting the club during the COVID-19 crisis. The ECB can only pledge £100 to your centre once, either to the Dynamos Cricket campaign or the COVID-19 campaign.

New Safeguarding Initiatives - Safe Hands

Cricket is a game that unites communities and inspires generations and more than ever it has a role to play in this uncertain and unsettling COVID-19 time.

As we continue to work towards delivering Inspiring Generations, we must ensure that the game is sustainable and that we mitigate against other risks that the game faces. When cricket returns, we expect more players, volunteers, clubs and officials to be taking part than ever before. The introduction of the online Safe Hands Management System will strengthen our network and continue to make cricket a safe game for young people, their families and all those around them to enjoy. 

When cricket returns, in a post-COVID-19 time, we will be launching the below initiatives and will be sharing the detail with clubs next week.  

• Safe Hands Online Registration Portal
• Game-wide Insurance Policy Club Cricket Charity and Defibrillators

All Stars Cricket and Dynamos Cricket

All Stars Activity Booklet

We are delighted to be able to share with you the 2020 All Stars Activity Booklet which has been adapted so that all content is suitable for families whilst they are at home – a download link can be found here. We will be sharing this booklet with parents later this afternoon and would encourage you to share across your networks as well. We look forward to seeing quiz answers, recipe outcomes and videos of cricket skills from all our junior cricketers.

Dynamos App

Alongside the All Stars Activity booklet, we are also excited to confirm that on 6th May  we will be releasing the Dynamos Cricket App, and due to COVID-19, will be making it available for all our young cricketers, not just those who signed up to Dynamos Cricket. The app will be available to download on the iOS and Android stores and is jam packed with skills, quizzes and activity challenges to try at home. We encourage you to share the download links once they are available so we can all help to keep children active and engaged with cricket at this time.

Your Questions

Please email us at lcfcontact@lancashirecricket.co.uk with any questions you may have.