Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to reports of financial difficulties faced by local football and other sports clubs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, what assessment they have made of the role that sports clubs play in the community life of their respective towns; and what steps they are taking to provide financial assistance to clubs as a matter of urgency.

Sport and physical activity can help build stronger communities by bringing people together. Sports clubs and volunteers have played a huge role in supporting communities through coronavirus – re-purposing themselves to provide delivery services, food banks and volunteer support.

Sport England have announced a £195 million package of support to help community clubs through this crisis. It recently boosted its Community Emergency Fund by a further £15 million to meet the demand, taking the total package up to £210 million.

Football clubs can also apply to the Football Foundation’s “Club Preparation Fund” for a grant to make the necessary changes and modifications to allow them to reopen.

The government is continuing to work closely with the sector to understand the issues they face and discuss how we can support them further.