This is a very difficult time for clubs. The shutdown of all our facilities couldn’t have come at a worse time with the new season about to start. We have been talking to some clubs to find out how they are dealing with this crisis and be in a position to carry on when restrictions are lifted. We thought it would be helpful to share what we have heard. Three themes have emerged from what clubs are doing:
Minimising expenditure – clubs are looking at what financial commitments they have and reducing them to a minimum. Some of the expenditure is dependent on the tennis activity so it will reduce anyway. Others are deferring some projects they had planned to improve their facilities to conserve cash.
Accessing government support – the government has put in place several financial support measures and claubs are studying these.
There is support for small businesses, which is what most clubs are, which Clubs are factoring into their planning.
Under the Small Business Grant Fund (SBGF) all businesses in England in receipt of Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR) and Rural Rates Relief (RRR) in the business rates system will be eligible for a payment of £10,000.
Under the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant (RHLG) businesses in England in receipt of the Expanded Retail Discount (which covers retail, hospitality and leisure) that has a rateable value of up to £15,000 will receive a grant of £10,000, and businesses in these sectors with a property that has a rateable value of over £15,000 and less than £51,000 will receive a grant of £25,000. More information is available:
Clubs who employ staff are investigating the support for furloughed staff which is available. Clubs need to designate affected employees as ‘furloughed workers’ and notify them and then submit information to HMRC about the employees that have been furloughed and their earnings through a new online portal. More details available:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/covid-19-support-for-businesses#support-for-businesses-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
Many clubs are concerned about their coaches who are self-employed. New support measures have been announced to support self-employed people and these will help our coaches to get through this difficult period. More details available: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-employment-income-support-scheme
Staying in touch with their members –Membership subscriptions make up the majority of a club’s income, so this is a critical time with the new membership year about to start.
Many clubs are asking people to renew their membership as normal to help safeguard the future of the club. They are stressing that the club will survive and be able to start up again when things return to normal if enough members support the club and rejoin now. Some clubs are suggesting that they will adjust next year’s membership fees if the shutdown lasts for a long period.
Clubs are also using social media and e mail to stay in contact and keep some kind of sense of community going.
If you have come up with any other ideas then please let us know and we will pass them on. We are planning club liaison contacts in late April when things may have become clearer and we will then have a look to see if the county LTA can be helpful to clubs in any particular way. In the meantime the county has taken steps to minimise our expenditure so we will be in the best position to support the relaunch of tennis, whenever that will be.
Sending everyone our best wishes
Cheshire County Executive