Badminton England is delighted with the announcement that indoor sports facilities can reopen from 25 July. Since the beginning of lockdown, we have been working tirelessly with Government to ensure a safe return to play and we are delighted that we can now change our focus from lobbying on your behalf, to helping you get back on court as quickly and as safely as possible.
We have today issued our updated guidance and FAQs which gives you all the information that you need to get back on court. We have also scheduled more webinars which you can book here.
Like all sports, badminton has suffered financially as a result of the pandemic, and we are very aware that many clubs and coaches will continue to face financial hardship. So today we are announcing a support package worth up to £250,000 to get our sport back up and running. We have listened to feedback from our members and have worked closely with Sport England over the lockdown period to put together a package that includes:
- The creation of the Badminton England Back to Play Fund of up to £100,000 to support affiliated clubs affected by Covid-19. (Find out more here)
- An optional reduction and extension in membership fees for the 2020/21 season for clubs, members, and coaches to help ease any financial pressures experienced by the badminton community (worth up to £120,000). More info to follow.
- A suite of free tools to enable clubs and coaches to manage and deliver Covid Secure sessions safely and effectively.
- Free tools to help club administrators to reduce club costs.
- Fundraising opportunities and membership marketing assistance to allow clubs to attract new members.
Full details of the support package will be published on our website by 25 July.
We are doing all we can to get clubs back up and running safely, but we also recognise that there is a long road ahead. Challenges will remain in getting clubs into some leisure centres and school facilities, but we are committed to continuing to do all we can to support those affected.
First and foremost, we are here to answer your questions as we go through the process of returning to court. Keep checking our website for updates to our roadmap which we will continue to update in line with any changes in government guidelines or contact us via the contact form.
