The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Digital, Culture,
Media and Sport ():...Many football clubs have benefited from
the Government’s support packages over the past few months in this
incredibly difficult period. The Treasury estimates that around
£1.5 billion of public funds has gone into sport since the
beginning of the pandemic. As well as the £300 million sports
winter survival package that we announced last week, over £200
million from Sport England has gone into
grassroots sport, and additional money has gone into various other
schemes, such as furlough, grants and reliefs over a period of many
months...
...The hon. Member for Ellesmere Port and Neston () mentioned facilities. Of course, it is also a medium
and long-term goal of the Government to significantly improve
facilities, and not only for football but for many other sports
across the country. I will take this opportunity to highlight the
fact that Sport England has funds available to
help enhance facilities; in fact, there is a live fund available at
the moment, the Return to Play fund, to help with sports
facilities, and I encourage grassroots clubs across the country to
apply to it. It is relatively small amount, but, boy, will it make
a difference.
My hon. Friends the Members for Bury North and for Bury South
raised the particular circumstances in Bury, of which I am
aware—we have had many regular conversations. They have asked for
Government support. As well as rich tea and sympathy and
enthusiastic support for Bury FC to sort its difficulties out,
there are areas for potential Government support, but it would
have to be in the remit of a broader offering. That could be a
sport offering, in which we could get Sport
England involved, or part of potential funds towards
broader community development, recognising the important role
that the club plays in the community, as my hon. Friends
mentioned. I am well aware of the challenges faced by Bury FC at
the moment, and I hope and have confidence that project phoenix
will arise from the ashes. Bury deserves a very positive
future...
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