A sweet promise has been made by one sports betting operator. They have pledged £500,000 to help local sports clubs as part of a funding programme.
Flutter UK and Ireland, which work under the Flutter Entertainment umbrella, have revealed the Cash4Clubs fund, a fund dedicated to helping grassroots sports across the UK and Ireland.
The company announced that applications for the fund had opened in early September.
Who will Cash4Clubs Support?
The fund will support over “250 grassroots sports clubs” across the UK and Ireland. Think local and small teams.
There are no specifications for what the money can be used for. Flutter UK and Ireland state that the funding can be used for coaching, equipment, venue hire, or anything sports-related.
Each club that qualifies for the Cash4Clubs fund will receive £2,000 to spend as they see fit. Since its formation, Flutter UKI has invested £7 million in sports clubs, and will continue to invest more next year!
Who Is Involved?
Surprisingly, there are some big names involved with the fund. Former football stars Peter Crouch and Alan Shearer are in full support of the scheme, according to a Flutter press release.
Is There A Need For Funding?
Yes, Cash4Clubs aims to tackle the rising costs of funding sports and fitness activities that local clubs are facing. As they don’t have huge sponsors or partnerships with betting brands, they don’t have the funding to pay for all the activities.
According to Flutter, 22% of clubs fear they will have to shut down by next year due to a lack of funding.
Peter Crouch said of the programme: “An additional £2,000 can make all the difference to local clubs – it can keep the lights on, keep facilities open and accessible, and provide much-needed funds to invest in equipment or training volunteers”.
Crouch continued, “These clubs aren’t just about sport – they’re giving people a place to belong, to build confidence and stay active. It’s why Cash4Clubs is so important, and I would urge people to apply.”
How Has Flutter Helped Others?
The betting operator has helped more than betting brands. According to the press release, Cash4Clubs has helped nearly 32,000 people with this fund, which was used earlier this year. They also claim they’ve helped over 200 clubs with funding, and most of those were from low-income backgrounds.
Various clubs have come forward to speak about how the programme has helped them. One, Parkinson’s Ninja is a club that provides specialised boxing and martial arts classes to people with Parkinson’s Disease. It is located in Wallasey, in the Wirral, England.
How Can Clubs Apply?
Applications for the fund are open until 8 December. This year, Cash4Clubs is urging clubs that want to increase sports participation in their local community to apply.
To apply, go to the Cash4Clubs website.
