Since Cash4Clubs was launched nearly £5m has been invested into community sports by Flutter through its brands.
Cash-strapped community clubs across the UK and Ireland will share in a £400,000 windfall after betting and gaming group Flutter UKI today unveiled the winning bids for its ‘Cash4Clubs’ grassroots sports programme.
Flutter UKI – home to Paddy Power, Sky Betting & Gaming, Betfair and tombola – is awarding grants of £2,000 a time to 200 clubs involved in everything from badminton and skateboarding to American Football, wheelchair rugby and surfing.
Community clubs and charities were able to bid for vital funding to improve their facilities, purchase new equipment, help fund coaching programmes or to invest in the sustainability of their operation.
A particular emphasis this year was placed on clubs in impoverished areas and those aiming to reach under-represented communities.
The awards come just months after the Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer announced the UK Government’s ‘Get Active’ strategy to drive participation in sport by improving access to physical activity.
Flutter UKI originally set aside £200,000 for the 2023-2024 ‘Cash4Clubs’ awards but decided to double the fund after receiving an unprecedented 1,282 applications.
Welcoming the initiative, Gambling Minister Stuart Andrew, said: “The Cash4Clubs fund will help to deliver on our ambition to get an additional 3.5 million adults and children physically active by 2030, and provide important support for community sport clubs. Staying active is vital for our health and wellbeing which is why the Government is investing over £400 million in grassroots facilities to make sure every community has access to the facilities they need.”
Winning ‘Cash4Clubs’ bids this year include the Team Solent wheelchair rugby club, which needed funding to survive and enter national competition, the Taibach Tigers Rounders Club in Wales and the Northern Powerhouse Boxing Academy in Todmorden, Yorkshire.
Flutter UKI CEO, Ian Brown, said: “Community clubs are the bedrock of sport in the UK and we are committed to doing everything we can to help small clubs make a real difference to people’s lives. I’m delighted we were able to double the size of this year’s Cash4Clubs fund to £400,000 after seeing a record number of applications come in. We are convinced Cash4Clubs will have a real impact in those areas that need it most.”
Since Cash4Clubs was launched in 2008, nearly £5 million has been invested into community sports by Flutter through its brands. Research shows that for every £1 invested in sports, an average of £6 is returned in social value.
Hayley Williams, captain at the Taibach Tigers, said: “It’s fantastic that we’ve been awarded a Cash4Clubs grant. We’re delighted and excited to see how we can improve the team and attract new members to the sport.”
Josie McNamara, general manager of the Northern Powerhouse Boxing Academy, added: “As a club involved in community work, receiving grants that directly support essential roles like our Head Coach is vital. A big thank you to Cash4Clubs and Flutter UKI.”
Flutter UKI worked with leading UK community sports charity Sported to deliver the Cash4Clubs programme. For further information on Cash4Clubs pls visit www.cash-4-clubs.com.
For more information, please contact corporatemedia@flutter.com.
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About Sported
Sported is a charity which delivers expertise, resources and free support to clubs and groups that use sport and physical activity to make a positive impact on communities throughout the UK. It works with almost 3,000 organisations supporting half a million people to overcome barriers in order to reach their full potential.
Cash4Clubs 2023-2024
Flutter awarded grants of £2,000 to 200 clubs – dividing the applications into UK regions, London, South-East, South-West, North-East, North-West, West Midlands, East Midlands, East of England, Yorkshire & Humber as well Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
REGIONAL CASE STUDIES
The South-East
Team Solent Sharks Wheelchair Rugby: Funding to continue as a club and enter GB wheelchair rugby competitions.
Vincent Barton: "Having the grant for competition fees means we can continue to put our teams into the Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby leagues. Thank you so much."
The South-West
Cornwall Bicycle Project: Wants to extend its range of adaptive bikes after success offering accessible cycling.
A spokesperson: "This grant will help us support our volunteers to keep on leading rides by paying for their first aid and safeguarding courses. It will go such a long way to supporting more riders and make it even more inclusive."
The North-East
Newcastle Fencing and Sports Trust: Seeking money to buy larger items of kit to deliver sessions to older adults.
Iain Aberdeen said: "The support received by Cash4Clubs grant programme will allow us to expand our delivery of sports coaching to a wider audience of participants and attract more individuals into regular sporting activity."
Yorkshire & Humber
Northern Powerhouse Boxing Academy: Funding to help provide affordable access to exercise for everyone in the community.
East Midlands
North Notts Hockey Club: Financial help to take on the lease of a pitch and return hockey to Mansfield.
Marc Johnson: "This grant is vitally important. The money will go towards the amount we need to take over the lease of a local pitch, make some repairs to the astroturf and renovate the facility."
Ireland:
Letterkenny Rugby Club: To help a club run by volunteers pay for pitch maintenance and build the size of its women’s rugby operation.
Christopher Digmas: "The award is greatly appreciated and will be deployed immediately in supporting the club and promoting the sport in the local community."
Wales:
Taibach Tigers Rounders Club: Funding to ensure ladies teams can continue in the local rounders league.
Scotland:
Inclusive Surfing Scotland: To offer fully adaptive surfing sessions to surfers with disabilities.
Iain Donaldson: "As new a charity, we're absolutely delighted to have been awarded £2,000 by Cash4Clubs and Flutter. The award will be spent on new wetsuits for our adaptive surfers to ensure they stay warm In the cold waters of the North Sea."
