England Athletics support for County Associations 2024 

England Athletics is delighted to confirm that county associations will receive funding for an 11th consecutive year, as part of the organisation’s commitment to grassroots athletics.

Associations can apply for grants of up to £500 to improve their track and field championships, while England Athletics’ continuing investment programme will also provide grants to a number of leagues, area associations and the English Schools' AA across the coming season.

Chris Jones, CEO of England Athletics, explains:

“We’re thrilled to be able to continue this programme of investment into grassroots athletics, which is central to our strategic objective of enhancing competition experiences for athletes and runners across England.

“We know that our sport faces challenges in terms of attracting and retaining competitors, and this is one of numerous ways in which we are responding to feedback from the athletics and running community, and investing in the areas that matter to them.

“Volunteers drive the majority of domestic events in this country, and helping them to enhance the athlete experience and provide inclusive and inspiring environments in which people can compete is a crucial part of our commitment to them.”

Sarah Benson, England Athletics Head of Talent Development, added:

“For most young athletes, the county championships is their first experience of championship athletics. Many of our most successful English athletes have fond memories of county championships and regard the event as being in pivotal in sparking a lifelong love of athletics. The opportunity to enhance the championship experience for young athletes through our County Grant scheme allows competition organisers to explore the use of technology to support the delivery of the competition. It also provides many of our volunteers with valuable experience using equipment and systems used at higher level track and field championships.”

Applications for grants open on 1 April, and will be awarded to associations looking to enhance the technology provision at their track and field championships, in areas such as: feedback forms, photofinish, electronic starting equipment and the use of electronic distance measuring (EDM) devices on long throws.

Nichola Skedgel, Competition and Partnerships Manager at England Athletics, added:

“This continued funding commitment reflects the important part that counties play in the athlete pathway. The opportunity for athletes to compete and succeed at a county track and field championship is hugely prestigious, and the funding grants on offer will ensure that the athlete experience is meaningful and memorable."

All county associations affiliated with England Athletics can get full free of charge access to the Roster Athletics system after the two organisations partnered in 2021 to provide an online entry and results programme.

This means, therefore, that the grant from England Athletics doesn’t have to be spent on event entry, as Roster can provide this our partners for free, which means the £500 funding can go further.