Member Update 16

Dear Member Clubs,

This is a lengthy email but it does outline some government support packages which may be of benefit to your club. Each club will be different so some schemes are relevant, others are not.

Below are details of support packages available to businesses in Wales as a result of the current firebreak, some of these funds are also open to community amateur sports clubs and non-profit organisations in receipt of discretionary rate relief.

Please note, local authorities are responsible for dispersing the funds, not Welsh Boxing, some of which are discretionary so will not be received automatically by eligible organisations, some will be open for application only until the funds are exhausted.

Additional info can be found here: https://businesswales.gov.wales/coronavirus-advice/lockdown-business-fund.

Grant 1 is £5,000 being made available for retail, leisure, and hospitality businesses that have been forced to close (as defined by the regulations) and occupy properties with a rateable value of between £12,001 and £51,000. The club will need to be on the NDR rating list for its local authority on 1 September 2020 and will need to complete a simple registration form to receive the grant. Clubs must be liable for business rates payable to the local authority to be eligible for this grant.

Grant 2 of £1,000 is being made available to clubs eligible for small business rates relief (SBRR) in Wales occupying properties with a rateable value of up to £12,000 (see exceptions below). Clubs must be liable for business rates payable to the local authority to be eligible for this grant.

Dependent on meeting the eligibility criteria, Grant 2 applicants can also apply for the following top-up grants:

Clubs eligible for small business rates relief that have been subject to local restrictions for 3 weeks or more and have been materially impacted (>50% reduction in turnover) up to the 23rd October will be eligible for a further grant of £1,000.
Clubs eligible for small business rates relief that have been forced to close (as defined by the regulations) as a result of the national firebreak lockdown will also be eligible for a further top up grant of £2,000 from their local authority.

Also a £1,000 grant is available to all ratepayers eligible for charitable relief and Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASC) relief, operating in the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors occupying properties with a rateable value of up to £12,000. Local authorities have discretion to provide grants to not-for-profit bodies they consider to be operating for charitable purposes but aren’t currently receiving charitable relief or CASC relief. This discretion will only apply to not-for-profit organisations who are in receipt of or have entitlement to discretionary rates relief and operate in the retail, leisure, or hospitality sectors.

Community Amateur Sports Clubs will also be eligible to apply for the top up grants if they meet the eligibility criteria detailed above.

Clubs can apply for the Lockdown Non-Domestic Rate Grant by accessing their Local Authority’s Lockdown website page. If eligible, they will be able to access the online application form, complete all the requested fields and submit their application. The grant will be open to applications from the 28th October and will close at 5pm on the 20th November 2020 or when the fund is fully committed.

A list of Local Authority webpages with further information:

Caerphilly: https://www.caerphilly.gov.uk/Services/Coronavirus/Covid-19-Support-for-businesses

Torfaen: https://www.torfaen.gov.uk/en/AboutTheCouncil/Homepage-Stories/Coronavirus/Grants/Grants.aspx

Blaenau Gwent: https://www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk/en/business/advice-for-business-covid-19/

Flintshire: https://www.flintshire.gov.uk/en/Business/Advice-and-guidance/Lockdown-Business-Fund.aspx

Denbighshire: https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/coronavirus/emergency-support-for-businesses.aspx

Wrexham: https://www.wrexham.gov.uk/service/covid-19-support-businesses/lockdown-business-fund

Anglesey: https://www.anglesey.gov.uk/en/Business/Business-support-Coronavirus-COVID-19.aspx

Gwynedd: https://www.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/en/Businesses/Help,-support-and-training/Lockdown-grants.aspx

Bridgend: https://www.bridgend.gov.uk/news/new-lockdown-funds-launched-for-businesses/

Neath Port Talbot: https://www.npt.gov.uk/22551

Ceredigion: http://www.ceredigion.gov.uk/business/covid-19-supporting-ceredigion-s-economy/lockdown-fund