Clubs

FUND OVERVIEW

Each season, the Grassroots Cricket Fund (GCF) will fund specific priority areas in grassroots cricket. This season, the GCF's focus is on empowering community clubs and indoor cricket centres to promote themselves in their communities, create quality experiences for their members through contingency plans and succession strategies and upskilling administrators and volunteers. Consequently, grants will now be targeted towards implementing programs that maximise impact in this area.

The program will provide the opportunity to enhance the experience of players, coaches, volunteers and administrators with an emphasis on growing junior participation across Australian Cricket.

These guidelines outline how clubs and centres can apply for funding, and provide the relevant conditions, eligibility and the assessment process. 

  

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the GCF grants are to ensure Cricket Clubs and Indoor Cricket Centres around Australia: 

• Remain a strong pillar for local community development; 
• Are supported to improve and grow participation in line with Australian Cricket’s strategic goal of doubling the number of 5 to 12 year-olds playing cricket over five years;
• Are empowered to promote themselves in their communities, create quality experiences for their members through contingency plans and succession strategies and upskilling their administrators and volunteers;
• Can access funds to support the development of their volunteers;
• Can provide safe, inclusive and accessible environments for cricket participants and the broader community. 

 

FUNDING CONDITIONS

Submissions made to the GCF must meet the following conditions: 

To be eligible to apply for a Grant: 

• Clubs and centres must fall under the affiliation umbrella of a State or Territory Association;
• Club and Centre must be located in Australia; 
• Clubs must properly constituted and registered as an Incorporated Association under their relevant State/Territory legislation; 
• Centres must have a current public liability insurance policy in place that satisfies any requirements of any applicable governing body; 
• Clubs and centres must have satisfactorily met reporting requirements on any Grants previously received from the Grassroots Cricket Fund; 
• Have adopted and endorsed the Australian Cricket Framework for Safeguarding Children & Young People from the 2022/23 season which is still valid and provide update Child safety Officer details to their State or Territories*.

*Please refer to the Safeguarding Framework for further information or speak with your local Cricket Manager/ Premier Cricket Manager if you require further information.

 

ELIGIBILITY

Who can apply: 

• All Community Cricket Clubs
• Associations that ‘act’ as clubs in regional areas  
• Premier Cricket Clubs  
• Indoor Cricket centres  

The following entities are not eligible for funding in this round: 

• Associations (we acknowledge that some associations act as 'clubs' in some regional areas, and they will be eligible to apply) 
• Regional boards which oversee associations  
• Schools & Colleges, and Umpire Associations 

 

FUNDING CRITERIA

To be eligible for funding, a Cricket Club or Indoor Cricket Centre must have been involved in at least one of the following initiatives in the 2022-23 season: 

• Delivered or participated in a Woolworths Cricket Blast program (activated a Junior or Master Blaster Program, School Holiday program or Pop Up centre in MyCricket); or 
• Fielded at least one junior girls’ team in an affiliated girls’ competition; or 
• Had a total of 10 or more girls registered in or across Woolworths Cricket Blast and Junior Cricket 

Please note, if your club / centre was not aligned to the above, they are not eligible for funding. 

 

FUNDING INFORMATION

Grant Amount: Clubs and centres are eligible to apply for grants of up to $5,000. 

Eligible activities that will be funded: 

Recruitment / promotional activities  

Initiatives that explore and drive new participation opportunities in Woolworths Cricket Blast and Junior programs and plan for future growth to ensure long term success.   

e.g 

• School engagement 
• Come & try days – juniors/girls 
• Recruitment drives  
• Targeted media campaigns 
• Digital promotion – socials, website development 
• Creation of a marketing strategy – consultancy use 

  

Retention Activities: 

Initiatives that encourage exceptional experiences for your members, including: 

• Development of a club strategic plan, including vision, mission, and focus 
• Operational plans to increase participation and engagement at the club 
• Workshops or training courses to enhance participant, coach, and volunteer skills and knowledge 

e.g. coaching courses, mental health first aid training, first aid training, cultural   awareness training, child safety officer training, umpire training, financial or risk management training, governance, social media training, volunteer management. Leadership courses for junior participants will also be accepted. 

  Please note: 

• To apply for a grant, your application must have the endorsement of your State or Territory Cricket Manager.  
• Costs incurred prior to 1 July 2023 are not considered eligible 

 

Items that will not be funded through the GCF: 

• General playing equipment, balls, uniforms, tablets, club equipment and any other items not used for above initiatives
• Maintenance equipment - rollers, sprinklers, mowers
• Professional coaching, player payments or administration salaries 
• Capital building works including renovations and extensions 
• Canteen items such as soft drink, food and alcohol 
• Rental costs associated with the annual or seasonal hire of facilities 
• Leasing of vehicles, trailers and accessories 
• Ongoing operational costs such as salaries for ongoing positions, rent, electricity and other utilities. 

 

APPLICATION DATES

Applications open – Monday, 18 September 2023 (12PM AEST) 

Applications close – Sunday, 29 October 2023 (11:59AM AEDT) 

Notification of outcomes – within 4 - 6 weeks of round closure

 

HOW TO APPLY

From 18 September 2023 (12pm AEST), clubs and centres will be able to apply for funding via an online form at grassrootscrircketfund.com.au. 

You'll be required to submit a detailed program outline, including cost breakdowns, quotations, and projected outcomes and impacts. Your application must also have the endorsement of your State or Territory Cricket Manager. 

Grant applications will be accepted up until the closing date of 29 October 2023 (11:59 AEDT). 

 

ASSESSMENT

The fund is administered by a joint committee of representatives from the ACA and CA. The committee has been formed to make decisions on the allocation of the funds, on behalf of the players. 

Grants will be allocated to clubs and centres by the Joint Committee, in its absolute discretion, on a merit and needs based assessment of the application (again, subject to club and centre applicants satisfying the applicable funding criteria). 

The assessment may take 4 – 6 weeks from the closing date. All applicants will receive written notification of the outcome of the assessment process. 

 

ACQUITTAL PROCESS

All successful applicants are required to send through a written submission detailing outcome of the initiative/s, impact and receipts as proof of spend no later than 31 March 2024. 

 

FACILITIES

The players also understand the importance of high quality and inclusive facilities for players, officials, volunteers and fans. For this reason, the players and the ACA will support community cricket facilities by partnering with CA and State and Territory Cricket Associations to implement the Australian Cricket Infrastructure Fund. To apply for both minor and major infrastructure grants please see the Australian Cricket Infrastructure Fund application form. 

 

CONTACT

For further information about the Grassroots Cricket Fund Club grants please contact: 

PlayCricket Support team 

1800 CRICKET (274 2538), or visit www.grassrootscricketfund.com.au 

OR alternatively contact your Local Cricket Manager / Premier Cricket Manager