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£330K secured for Northern Ireland clubs through Sport NI’s ‘Sports Sustainability Fund’

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BELFAST – Sport Northern Ireland has today confirmed that 23 cricket clubs across Northern Ireland will receive a total of £330,119 from the Sports Sustainability Fund following a successful joint submission between Cricket Ireland, North West Cricket Union and Northern Cricket Union.
The Sports Sustainability Fund was established by the NI Executive to help address the economic consequences of the COVID-19 health pandemic on the sports sector. It endeavours to minimise the financial stress on the sports sector due to lost income as a result of COVID-19 lockdown and ongoing restrictions so as to sustain the sector.

Applications closed on 20 January 2021, and the announcement has now been made regarding successful funding recipients.

The recipient cricket clubs are:

• Ardmore
• Ballyspallen
• Bready
• Brigade
• Burndennett
• Donemana
• Drummond
• Eglinton
• Fox Lodge
• Glendermott
• Killyclooney
• Maghera
• Newbuildings
• Carrickfergus
• Cregagh
• CSNI
• Dundrum
• Holywood
• Laurelvale
• Lisburn
• Templepatrick
• Woodvale

Details will be confirmed with clubs over coming days by their respective Unions.

Elaine Nolan, Participation Director for Cricket Ireland, said:

“This is welcome news for the clubs and grassroots of the sport across Northern Ireland, and we thank Sport Northern Ireland and the Department for Communities for their support. This funding goes some way towards recognising the difficult circumstances that most clubs felt during 2020, and will go towards ensuring these clubs remain viable and sustainable as we gradually emerge from the pandemic.”
“This successful outcome is also a great example of Cricket Ireland, the provincial unions and clubs working together – and as we move forward as a sport, we will seek greater collaboration between all levels of the game as we look to grow the player and fanbase of this great sport across Ireland.”

Peter McCartney, General Manager of North West Cricket Union, said:

“We are delighted for the North West clubs and this funding will be welcome relief to many as they look forward to restarting activity in 2021. This funding has come at a critical time for our clubs and provides them with financial support in what has been a very challenging 12 months.”
“Our thanks to Sport Northern Ireland and the Department for Communities for their continued support, and to the NCU and Cricket Ireland for working together on this project. Also it’s important to recognise the hard work of volunteers in our clubs who have worked so well with NWCU staff on this successful funding application.”

Angela Platt, General Manager of Northern Cricket Union, said:

“The NCU welcomes the news of this much-needed funding, and acknowledges the ongoing support that Sport Northern Ireland and the Department for Communities have displayed for cricket in our region. This outcome couldn’t have been achieved without the work of our clubs, working diligently with NCU staff and Cricket Ireland. With the recent announcement of the NI Executive on the gradual return to activity starting from 12 April, we are certainly going into the new season with a greater sense of optimism now.”