How much funding Chesterfield can apply for to make sure facilities meet Covid-19 guidelines - and what it would go on

Chesterfield will be able to apply for funding to help the Spireites make a safe return to football when it resumes.
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The Premier League, The Football Association and the Government, through Sport England, have made £2.19 million available through their Football Foundation.

The new Club Preparation Fund will help football clubs and community organisations to prepare their buildings to safely reopen in line with Government guidance around hygiene and social distancing.

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Grants of £500 are being made available and more than 4,000 grassroots clubs and organisations across the country, including those in the National League, will be able to benefit.

The Spireites can apply for funding to help prepare their facilities for a safe return to football.The Spireites can apply for funding to help prepare their facilities for a safe return to football.
The Spireites can apply for funding to help prepare their facilities for a safe return to football.

Club Preparation Fund grants will enable clubs to satisfy extra hygiene measures that Government guidance requires.

This includes:

- The installation of hygiene facilities such as hand sanitiser dispensers, soap dispensers, paper towel dispensers and waste bins

- Modifications such as safety screening, contactless payment systems and signage

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- Facility maintenance work, such as repairing hand basins and hot water provision

- Professional inspections that may be necessary due to the prolonged period of closure resulting from the pandemic – including inspections of water quality, gas and ventilation.

The Club Preparation Fund follows the £7m Pitch Preparation Fund, which is benefiting 9,588 pitches and is a continuation of football and Government’s support for clubs that have lost out on normal revenue streams during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mark Bullingham, The FA’s chief executive officer, said: “We are committed to getting all levels of football playing as soon as the Government decides that it is safe to do so.

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“This fund will be critical to helping clubs prepare facilities and carry out essential maintenance work. We want them to be ready to welcome players back, which hopefully will be very soon.”

Robert Sullivan, interim chief executive of the Football Foundation, said: “The Club Preparation Fund is a continuation of the support to assist the return of football by helping clubs prepare their buildings for the COVID-19 environment.”

Clubs should apply via footballfoundation.org.uk before the deadline of July 19.