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Club Support

ECB Accredited Club Status, which replaces the former Clubmark scheme, is a framework designed to help cricket clubs in England and Wales raise operational standards and provide a safe, welcoming environment for players, volunteers, and members of all ages. It demonstrates that a club is well-run, sustainable, and committed to inclusivity, giving assurance to parents, carers, and participants that the club is a trusted place for cricket. We wanted to flag what this means for your club and how the Kent Cricket Foundation can help you get ready.

What’s changing: If your club held Clubmark accreditation between 2022 and 2025, you’ll need to complete the new ECB Accredited Club status process in 2027. This isn’t a re-accreditation exercise — it’s a refreshed process, moving to a pre-season window (January – April 2027) instead of an in-season one.

What you need to do now: The good news is there’s a lot you can prepare over the off-season, much of which fits naturally around your AGM:

  • Review and update your club constitution, using the Club Constitution Checklist and the ECB model constitution
  • Review and update your club Safe Hands Policy Statement
  • Update your committee details and safeguarding officer information on Play-Cricket and SHMS following any AGM elections.
  • Check that your Club Chair and Secretary have “main administrator” rights on Play-Cricket as this is where clubs will submit their documents.
  • Take a look at the requirements checklist so you know exactly what you’ll be assessed against.

Key dates:

  • September – December 2026: preparation phase — get your documentation in order.
  • January 2027: accreditation window opens.
  • 30 April 2027: accreditation window closes.

We’re here to help: If you have any questions about what’s required or how to prepare, get in touch with Pete Jones Club Development & Safeguarding Manager. We’d also encourage you to look at the Club Affiliation Toolkit for templates and guidance.

Get Set Weekend provides a pre-season focal point for clubs across the country.

Promoted by The Cricket Collective at the ECB, each year there are prizes to be won by the first 1000 clubs who sign up to get their club ready for the season on Get Set Weekend.

For all clubs that register, there are online webinars and resources to download from the ECB’s Get Set Weekend webpage to support the club as it brings together its volunteer workforce to get ready for the start of the season.

Whether the club are looking to complete a large project or just give the site a thorough freshen up, a well run event will not only enhance the facilities but unite your membership ahead of the new season.

Find out more about Get Set Weekend 2026 via the ECB webpage here.

Undoubtedly ‘funding’ and ‘grants’ are the most common question that we get asked about. Below you will find some initial places to look to see what may currently be available from a variety of sources, but there are some crucial considerations and common questions that we can answer from the outset.

1. Funding bodies are looking for a return on investment

Not in terms of capital but in most cases the awarding body will be looking for you to help them achieve a specific outcome. This could be in the form of  an increased amount of sports provision, e.g. additional participants/sessions or a diversification of your offer, by encouraging under-represented groups to take part.

2. Machinery, Utilities and ‘Essential Costs’

As you would expect, grants are not available for covering utility bills or running costs. The most frequent request we receive is for grants towards mowers or rollers. Unfortunately a cricket club cannot operate without functional machinery, the maintenance and replacement of these items are therefore deemed as ‘essential costs’ that a well-run and sustainable club is budgeting for. Some clubs do have success with part-funding machinery with local supporters, such as parish councils and Councillors.

Alternatively there is the ECB Interest Free Loan.

Where to look for funding?

Affiliated cricket clubs can benefit from the knowledge and expertise of staff at both Kent Cricket and ECB when undertaking a project around their facilities. Some examples of common projects are listed below, accompanied with downloadable advice and specification documents where applicable.

Fine Turf Projects including drainage
– ECB TS4 – Guidelines for the construction, preparation and maintenance of cricket pitches

Pavilion – refurbishment, extensions or new builds
– ECB TS5 – Pavilions & Clubhouses

Net Facilities & Non-turf Match Pitches-
– ECB TS6 – Performance Standards for Non-Turf Cricket Pitches

Additional Downloads

The ECB Cricket Collective Learning Hub houses easily accessible tools and resources to support volunteers. Click on the links below to access the different support resources.

Workforce and Volunteers

Workforce & Volunteers – Support and Information for and about The Cricket Collective – the volunteers and the workforce that make that happen

Players & Playing Offer – Support for players and information on different forms of cricket

Places You Play – Guidance on how to get your space ready to play

Partnerships & Policies – All you need to know about cricket partnerships and the policies that support and protect your play

Workforce and Volunteers

Girls Accelerator Toolkit – The Cricket Collective – The Girls Cricket Accelerator Toolkit is a simple, practical resource for club volunteers to help start, grow, and sustain girls’ cricket. It’s designed for clubs of all sizes and experience levels, from those running their first taster sessions to clubs who have established opportunities.

If you have any specific Club Development questions, please email Pete Jones – Club Development & Safeguarding Manager