The English Ice Hockey Association has been awarded £343,000 from Sport England’s Sector Partner Fund as they work to continue supporting the nation to be active amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.
Designed to support key partners in immediate financial need, the £5 million Sector Partner Fund is part of Sport England’s £210 million support package to help the sport and physical activity sector through the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
The wider support package was initially launched as a £195 million package on 31 March, with Sport England increasing support to £210 million in early May. This followed unprecedented demand for their Community Emergency Fund, delivering immediate funding to thousands of grassroots sports clubs and community organisations most in need.
Sport England has been widely commended by the sport sector for the speed and scale of their response, with the Sector Partner Fund specifically designed to support membership style organisations that play a key role in supporting other bodies and clubs across the country.
EIHA’s Director Andrew Miller said: “The sector partner fund has allowed us to support our players, officials, coaches and volunteers in a really challenging time. Whilst we were all disappointed with the premature end to the season, the funding allows the EIHA to continue to support our sport and put in place plans for us to return to rinks as soon as it is safe to do so.”
As the nation continues to emerge from lockdown, the EIHA will be well-placed to play its part in supporting the public to be more active.
With habits disrupted, familiar inequalities have been exacerbated even further, with some demographic groups disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Women, people from lower socio-economic groups, BAME communities, and those with a long-term health condition or disability are amongst those finding it harder to be active. There has never been a more important time to help the population to be active.
For more information about Sport England’s coronavirus response, please click here.