England and Wales Cricket Trust

The England and Wales Cricket Trust (EWCT), a registered charity (no. 1112540), promotes community participation in cricket as a means of healthy recreation, physical wellbeing, social cohesion, and youth development, with a strong emphasis on inclusivity and tackling inequalities. Established to enhance access and quality of grassroots cricket facilities, it partners closely with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and county associations, channeling significant annual expenditure—often over £20 million—into infrastructure and projects that benefit diverse communities, prioritizing women and girls, disabled participants, ethnic minorities, and low socio-economic groups.

It funds capital improvements like pitch upgrades, clubhouses, energy-efficient refurbishments, irrigation, security, and non-turf practice facilities; specialist equipment for disability cricket; and community-focused initiatives via programmes such as the County Grants Fund, Grass Pitch Improvement Fund, Small Grant Scheme, and Interest-Free Loan Scheme. Projects must demonstrate broad community benefit and increased participation, not just club exclusivity.

Eligible applicants are ECB-affiliated cricket clubs and organizations in England and Wales, with no strict income limits but a preference for grassroots entities providing governing documents, three years' accounts, insurance, and 10% partnership funding. Applications follow a two-stage process (EOI then full) via the ECB IMS portal after consulting county boards; County Grants have three 2025 rounds (next EOI: 10 March), loans are rolling. Typical awards: £1,000–£10,000 grants, up to £50,000 loans.

EWCT excludes revenue/core costs, emphasizing strategic, ECB-aligned capital investments that level facilities across backgrounds—distinctive as Wales' primary conduit for such funding, unlike England's Sport England options—ensuring long-term societal impact through sport.