The ECF grassroots initiative was launched on 16th July this year (on the ECF website and in the July edition of ChessMoves). The fund is intended to be a multi-year initiative to help promote and develop chess across England. Requests for funding are assessed against a prospectus, which also includes details of how to apply. Most of the funds (£90,000) have been split across ten English regions, with a regional coordinator appointed in each region to make recommendations. A smaller sum has been retained centrally to cover any schemes which are cross-regional.
The regions, and the regional coordinators, are:North West (Richard Walsh);
- North East (Mick Riding);
- Yorkshire and Humberside (Andrew Wainwright);
- West Midlands (Tim Lane);
- East Midlands (Paul Mottram);
- East of England (John Wickham);
- South East (Jo Wildman);
- Greater London (Chris Skulte);
- South West (Nikki Forster).
At the ECF the central team assessing grant applications to the ECF comprises:
- Stephen Greep, Non-Executive Director (Scheme Chairman);
- Mike Truran, Chief Executive;
- Nigel Towers, Director of Home Chess
The first round of applications closed on 1st September. Funding of over £10,000 has been agreed, supporting 19 schemes across the country. Amongst the projects to receive financial support are new and developing clubs and congresses (including women’s and junior-specific events), training/coaching, publicity leaflets, website development support, safeguarding costs, as well as contributions to outdoor tables and even a gazebo for community events. A significant proportion of the successful bids involved purchases of new equipment, clocks, sets and boards.
Applications for support were received and agreed for the following chess clubs: Ashton Community, Basildon, Bath, Cramlington Community, Durham University, Gosforth, Meltham and Denby Dale, Morley Junior, New England (Peterborough), St John the Evangelist (Liverpool), South Bristol, Wigan, Willesden and Brent, and York. Additionally, awards were made to Chess for Life Ltd, Huddersfield Congress, Lido School of Chess, PLAY, and Richmond upon Thames College.
The fund part financed a gazebo for Gosforth Chess Club’s outdoor community events – seen here in action on a typical Newcastle summer day ….
Future reports on the scheme will contain more details of specific projects once the impact of the grants can be assessed. The ECF would like to thank Chess & Bridge and DGT for providing equipment to applicants at discounted costs.
Potential applicants are referred to the prospectus for the grassroots scheme, which can be found here: https://www.englishchess.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Grassroots-Prospectus.pdf. Applications may be made at any time, although the next assessment period ends on 1st December.
— Stephen Greep, Chair ECF Grassroots Committee