You may be aware that local football clubs in Leeds are being charged for using Education facilities (sports halls and football pitches) from January 2011. These facilities have been provided free of charge since 1991 under the Leeds City Council community use policy. Five months ago the Council wrote to all hirers of education facilities to outline a proposed charging tariff (which are in line with Leeds City Council charges for using recreational facilities). These costs will be applied to all community groups hiring facilities.
This change in policy came about following the round of central government funding cuts and also that Education Leeds had subsidised community groups with £875,000 during the last financial year . Education Leeds are no longer prepared to fund this subsidy to the school and have therefore put the onus on the school to dictate the level of charging for its facilities to local community groups. This subsidy was paid by Education Leeds to the schools to cover the cost of the letting.
From January 2011 each football club will have to pay an  hourly or fixed fee to use the sports halls, gymnasiums, Astroturf pitches and football fields should the governors at the school decide to adopt the proposed charging policy. Some schools are looking to charge between £10 – £25 per hour for their facilities and also charge £180 per pitch per team per season. A number of our clubs have contacted us to say they now face bills of up to £38,00o per season to provide training and match day facilities. This change in policy had also been covered in the local media but come January 2011 clubs will be asked to pay.
I have personally had meetings with local councillors and have written to each of the schools that Wortley FC use for training or match days. So far only one school has replied. The club has received an estimated bill of £37,950 for one season. We cannot even afford 10% of this amount and our club survives on the basis that we receive the use of facilities for free.
I have also spoken to other clubs within our league and some have received bills in the region of £17,000. There are other clubs within our league who must be in a similar situation. We have 6 weeks left to try and find a solution to this issue. Ultimatley this would mean teams training on the parks on a Saturday morning during winter and having to cancel their training lettings during the week on ground of affordability. I am prepared to champion the cause on behalf of all clubs within Leeds to at least try and reduce the financial burden which will be imposed should this go unchallenged. The league have written to Leeds City Council and the FA and we await their response on this matter.
If this affects your club and would like to be involved in a campaign to challenge this new policy then please contact Roy Kearsley on 0796 702 8220 or email roy.kearsley@wortleyfc.org.uk The more teams we have opposing this issue the better chance we have on reducing the financial burden on club which could ultimatley result in the folding of teams within our league.