MP urges sports clubs to make Olympic-sized savings

6.23.22pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 7th Nov 2006

West Midlands Liberal Democrats MP, Lorely Burt has thrown her weight behind a campaign to cut the amount of cash local sports clubs hand over to the taxman each year and to encourage local people to get fit and active -perhaps even getting on the road to London 2012 medal contention.

The West Midlands Liberal Democrats MP is urging clubs in Solihull to sign up to an HM Revenue and Customs scheme which could see local clubs save hundreds of thousands of pounds to re-invest in pitches, coaches and facilities across the area, ahead of the 2012 London Olympics.

To date, over 4000 clubs across the country have taken advantage of the Community Amateur Sports Clubs scheme - which provides 80% statutory rate relief as well as eligibility for Gift Aid on donations - saving over £15m (an average saving of £3,500 per club each year).

But that figure represents only 10% of the clubs which could be benefiting from the little-known scheme - meaning that £60m which could remain in club coffers is being handed over to the taxman each year.

The campaign, led by CCPR, the alliance for governing bodies of sport, is aimed at ensuring that more clubs reap the benefits of the scheme and to ensure that as much money as possible is retained within community clubs in the run-up to the London Olympics in six year's time. CCPR believes that the extra cash will be vital if clubs are to take advantage of the Olympic window and get as many people as possible involved in sport and recreation.

Speaking today, Lorely Burt MP said "It really is essential that clubs make the most of this scheme. The more clubs sign up to register, the more money raised by our community sports clubs can be re-invested into our communities' facilities. This scheme offers clubs the chance to save thousands of pounds each per year, simply by registering with HMRC - and that's money that I know sport and recreation can make really good use of.

"Yet, so far, only a tiny proportion of eligible clubs have signed up, meaning that thousands are missing out on potential windfalls. With the 2012 Olympics fast approaching, all clubs - not just those involved in Olympic sports - should see an upsurge in interest and it's vital that they're as well resourced as possible to prepare for that."

Tim Lamb, Chief Executive of CCPR, added "Our community clubs are rarely well-off and this scheme is all about letting them keep hold of a little more of what they manage to raise. It's simple to register but clubs who registered a couple of years ago are already being able to point at the extra investment they've been able to make in things like coaching, new strips and better pitches. Club members can easily find out more by visiting a new website dedicated to the scheme - www.cascinfo.co.uk."

ENDS

Note to editors:

1. CCPR is the umbrella organisation for 270 national governing and representative bodies of sport and recreation in the UK, which speaks and acts to promote, protect and provide for the interests of sport and physical recreation at all levels.

2. www.cascinfo.co.uk provides objective advice on the benefits of CASC status, how best to register and details of the registered clubs. Further information on the site is available from Ben Andersen-Tufnell - bat@ccpr.org.uk.

3. The CASC scheme was set up in 2002. Registration for the scheme should be made through Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC).