Eddisbury MP welcomes Government’s funding package for Sport’s recovery

Eddisbury MP Edward Timpson has welcomed the Government’s support of sport at all levels during the pandemic following the announcement of a new funding package to aid local sports clubs through the uncertainty posed by the pandemic.

Mr Timpson has also welcomed the Government’s continued commitment to invest in a world-leading centre for women‘s and girls’ football in Winsford.

Throughout the pandemic, the Government has consistently taken action to recognise the importance of sport to our country and our communities.

Even during the height of lockdown in spring, the Government still prioritised physical exercise and activity, given its importance for physical and mental health, and has worked hard since to get grassroots sports back up and running.

The Government has:

• Helped the sector by making sure it was eligible for business support schemes such as the business rates relief for eligible leisure businesses, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme and the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. Many sports and clubs took up this support totalling many tens of millions of pounds. 
• Provided specific support for local authorities through the income guarantee scheme.
• Worked with Sport England to provide a £195 million package of support to help community sport through this crisis. The organisation has also boosted its Community Emergency Fund by a further £15 million to meet the demand, taking the total up to £210 million. 
• Worked with sports to provide them with a clear path back to recovery.  We got elite sport back up and running behind closed doors, brought Premier League football to the BBC for the first time ever, and brokered a landmark deal to secure over a third of Premier League games on free-to-air television.

The Government’s priority throughout the pandemic has been to help sports to help themselves.

There had been plans to allow more fans to return to sporting events this month, but unfortunately the public health advice was clear that we need to restrict the virus, and the Government could not introduce further changes that would allow the virus to spread further at this time.

Cheshire’s ‘sporting economy’ is also set to be bolstered further by the Government’s renewed commitment to work with the Football Association to build a new state of the art centre for Women’s and Girls’ Football Centre of Excellence in Winsford.

In response to a parliamentary question from Mr Timpson, Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston said that the Government would do all it could to back the new Football Centre.

The Government considers this to be a flagship project to increase further the standing of the women’s game.

The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, acknowledging the difficulties sports clubs are facing, said:

“This is a difficult moment for British sport, but you should not doubt our commitment to supporting the sector as best we can to deal with the consequences of this decision.”

Eddisbury MP Edward Timpson said:

“I have been reassured that the Government recognises the gravity of the situation facing clubs and organisations in Eddisbury and across the country. 

“I have had a constructive meeting with the Sports Minister, who will be working hard to ensure that British sport bounces back as soon as possible.

“Sports Clubs that are struggling should, in the first instance, get in touch with their governing bodies who will be able to provide help.

“I’m glad that the Government has renewed its commitment to the National Women’s and Girls‘ Football Centre of Excellence in Winsford, and I hope to be able to enjoy Winsford becoming the home of women’s football in our country.”