ECB Confirms £45m Grassroots Boost to Drive Inclusion in Cricket

England and Wales Cricket Board has confirmed that around £45m from the sale of teams in The Hundred will be invested into grassroots cricket, with a strong focus on inclusion.

The money comes from the £520m raised through private investment into the eight Hundred teams. Ten percent of that total was ring-fenced for the grassroots game in England and Wales.

The ECB has now created a new Strategic Facilities Fund. This fund will back larger-scale capital projects and is expected to run for at least 10 years.

Funding will target projects that increase access for:

• Women and girls

• Disabled participants

• Lower socio-economic groups

• Ethnically diverse communities

ECB chief executive Richard Gould described the funding as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” for grassroots cricket.

The governing body says participation is rising, particularly in women’s and girls’ cricket. It believes new and improved facilities are essential if the sport is to widen access across communities.

Additional Funding and Support

The ECB is seeking further support from the UK Government and commercial partners.

Last year, the Government committed £1.5m towards two new cricket domes. However, a previous £35m grassroots pledge has not yet been delivered.

Alongside the £45m facilities fund, the ECB has confirmed:

• Increased small grants for club facility upgrades

• More interest-free loans for capital improvements

• £6m over three years for recreational county boards to deliver their own strategic plans

  
  

Applications for the new Strategic Facilities Fund will open in April. Bids must be submitted through county boards.

Addressing Equity in the Game

The announcement follows the 2023 report from the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket, which found structural and institutional racism within the sport. The report also concluded that women were treated as subordinate to men and that elitism and class-based discrimination remained widespread.

In response, the ECB invested £2m in 2023 to improve diversity. An independent review published last year stated that cricket is moving in the right direction.

The new £45m commitment signals a long-term attempt to tackle inequality through facilities, participation, and access at community level.

How Club Development Solutions Can Support Your Club

Significant funding is now available. But access depends on how prepared your club is.

At Club Development Solutions, we help clubs get grant ready.

We review your current legal structure. We assess whether your constitution is fit for purpose. We check that your governance aligns with funder expectations. We identify gaps in policies such as safeguarding, equality, finance, and risk management.

If needed, we support incorporation, charitable status applications, and CASC compliance. We help you strengthen board structures, clarify roles, and improve financial controls.

Funders expect clear governance, transparent decision-making, and strong financial oversight. Many clubs miss out because these basics are not in place.

We work with you to fix that.

If you are planning a facilities bid or want to position your club for future funding, now is the time to act. Get in touch to arrange a governance and funding readiness review.