Latest Government Guidance

Facilities

All indoor and outdoor sports, leisure and recreation facilities can open. Facility owners can continue to display a QR code to enable participants to ‘check in’ using the NHS app but this is no longer required by law.

Face coverings are also no longer required by law, but the government expects and recommends that people should continue to wear them in crowded and enclosed settings.

Participation

There are now no restrictions on the number of people who can take part in sport and recreation activities, either indoors or outdoors. Laws requiring social distancing are also no longer in place, meaning you do not have to socially distance when taking part in any activities.

Sports which were previously taking place as modified versions, such as combat and close contact sport can now resume full contact training and competition. You should continue to follow any relevant advice from your NGB or sports provider.

Spectators

Spectators are now permitted at sporting events in any numbers, both indoors and outdoors. Those organising large events should follow the guidance for events and attractions.

Hospitality

Clubs and facilities which offer hospitality can now do so without restrictions such as social distancing and table service. You should continue to follow the guidance for hospitality settings.

DCMS has published updated guidance on the changes at Step 4. Sport England have also published FAQs covering key questions from the sector.

Financial Support

On Wednesday 3 March, the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak MP announced his measures in the Budget. The following is a brief summary of the key announcements most relevant to our sector.

Sport Specific Funding

Sport Recovery Package

The government has announced a further £300 million aimed at supporting major spectator sports as a result of losses during the pandemic. Announcements about funding settlements will be made in due course.

This is a welcome announcement of additional funding and reflects calls made by the Alliance and our major sports members to address the financial impact of a slower than expected return of fans.

Major Events

The government will provide £1.2 million to mitigate the potential financial effects of COVID-19 on the UEFA European Women's Championship which is being hosted in England in 2022.

£2.8 million is also being made available to enable the UK & Ireland to bid for the 2030 FIFA Men’s World Cup, with the government also investing £25 million into grassroots football.

Covid 19 Support Measures

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

The Chancellor announced that the Coronavirus Job Retention (furlough) scheme would be extended until the end of September. Between now and the end of June this will stay in its current form, with the government paying 80% of the wages of employees unable to work. However, from July the government will be asking organisations to contribute to the scheme as follows:

• July – Employers asked to pay 10%
• August and September – Employers asked to contribute 20%

At present the scheme will end on 30 September 2021.

Self-Employment Income Support Scheme

The government’s Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) will be extended from April to September. This will come in the form of two more grants (4^th and 5^th).

The fourth grant, which covers the period from February to April, will continue to pay 80% of three months average trading profits and is capped at £7,500.

The fifth grant will cover the period from May to September and will be based on turnover. Those whose profits have fallen by over 30% will receive support as per the fourth grant. Those whose profits have fallen by less than 30% will receive a grant of 30% of three-month trading profits, capped at £2,850.

The grant covers anyone who has filed a tax return for the 2019-20 tax year.

Business Rates

The government has also announced that the business rates holiday for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure businesses will continue in its current form until the end of June. This will be followed by 66% business rates relief for the period from 1 July 2021 to 31 March 2022, capped at £2 million per business for properties that were required to be closed on 5 January 2021, or £105,000 per business for other eligible properties.

Restart Grants

The Chancellor has announced that the government will be providing Restart Grants for hospitality, accommodation, personal care, leisure and gym businesses in England of up to £18,000 per premises to help with the cost of reopening.

Another £425 million is also being provided to local authorities in England to put towards discretionary business grant funding.

Community Ownership Fund

The government will create a new £150 million Community Ownership Fund. From the summer, community groups will be able to bid for up to £250,000 matched funding to help them to buy local assets to run as community-owned businesses. This fund applies primarily to hospitality business however, in exceptional cases up to £1 million of matched funding will be available to help establish a community-owned sports club or buy a sports ground at risk of loss from the community.

Recovery Loan Scheme

From 6 April 2021 the Recovery Loan Scheme will provide lenders with a guarantee of 80% on eligible loans between £25,000 and £10 million to give them confidence in continuing to provide finance to UK businesses. The scheme will be open to all businesses, including those who have already received support under the existing COVID-19 guaranteed loan schemes.

Other Announcements

Red diesel

At last year’s Budget the Chancellor announced plans to remove the right to use red diesel in the majority of situations from 2022. We responded to the subsequent consultation to state that red diesel should still be able to be used for grassroots sport and recreation purposes. The government has now confirmed that amateur sports clubs will continue to be able to use red diesel.

The government’s response to the consultation states: ‘In light of the arguments made by representatives from the sports sector that increased costs on their clubs would be passed down to members, the government accepts that removing the entitlement to use red diesel from amateur sports clubs, as well as all golf courses, could affect people’s ability to participate in sport and impact on health and well-being’.

Levelling-Up Fund

Rishi Sunak outlined a £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund, which will support local areas across the UK to invest in infrastructure that improves everyday life. This funding will go towards projects that include regenerating town centres and high streets, upgrading local transport and investing in culture and heritage, ensuring that community assets continue to serve local people across the whole UK. It is possible that this money will be available to invest in sport and recreation and we will provide more information in due course.

Corporation Tax

The government has announced the introduction of a Corporation Tax ‘Super Deduction’, a 130% relief against capital investments into plant and machinery costs for the next two years. Sports organisations investing in plant and machinery will be able to benefit from this relief. 

In addition, government has announced a temporary extension to the period over which businesses may carry trading losses back for relief against profits of earlier years.

Further details of existing business support measures are available on our Financial Support page.

The government also has a COVID-19 support finder tool to help you identify business support measures you may be eligible for.

The information above relates to England only. For information about the other Home Countries please see the relevant devolved administrations guidance for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

View all the latest guidance from DCMS for the public, providers of outdoor sport facilities, elite athletes, personal trainers and coaches on the phased return of sport and recreation.

Please be sure to follow DCMS, Sport England and the Sport and Recreation Alliance on twitter for the latest information. This section of our COVID-19 support will be regularly updated with the appropriate guidance.

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