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FIT protects land and facilities for outdoor sport and play at over 1,150 sites covering 8,000 acres across the UK. Ours is an essential role in the safeguarding of playing fields. The planning system alone is not enough to ensure playing fields and recreational areas are considered in development and expansion plans; we provide an extra layer of scrutiny and security. To do this, we work with local management structures (such as Local Authorities and Parish Councils) to help make sure local communities benefit from safeguarded local access.

The benefits of FIT protection:

• Safeguarding land, facilities and opportunities for current and future users
• Protecting public access
• Providing reassurance about viability and sustainability to potential investors and to protect investments
• Setting conditions to protect the use of fields

Better funding potential

Sustainability is considered a key priority for funding schemes. Our protection ensures the long-term future of a site, giving funders the security of knowing they are supporting a solid investment. We also have access to experts in field management, fundraising and planning and charity legislation, providing a strong network of support to ensure fields are well-managed and, ultimately, more fundable.

Our land protection arrangements are based on a number of flexible options to meet the needs of specific groups or local communities. Whether you're looking for help regarding ownership, terms of protection, access arrangements, charitable status or the re-application of funds, we can provide advice, expertise and a network of support.

We provide a number of field protection options:

1. Deeds of protection
2. Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) Status
3. Custodian Trustee/Freehold Protection
4. King George V Fields

1 Deeds of protection

FIT uses two types of deed. These are legal instruments which guarantee that the terms of the deed must be followed. Both deeds offer FIT protection but one also creates a charity status, offering the additional protection of charity law. The deeds have been designed for local authorities or groups who want to protect a field they own or are about to own. Click here to see examples of the deeds.

2 Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) Status

The Inland Revenue has set up CASC status to allow sports clubs to enjoy the benefits of charitable status without the administrative responsibilities attached to being a charity. This is designed for sports clubs or clubs with sports as their main focus. The assets of a CASC, such as a playing field, belong to the club, not its individual members. Therefore, if a club dissolves, its playing field cannot be sold for individals' gain. FIT can then ensure its future and continued use in promoting sports in the spirit of CASCs. For further details, click here (link: www.cascinfo.co.uk)

3 Custodian Trustee/Freehold Protection

Sometimes the most effective way to protect a field is for FIT to become the freehold owner of the field in question but with the field given to the local community to develop and manage. FIT can become Custodian Trustee of a field which is itself a charity. This field is then managed by a local group or authority. Alternatively, FIT can offer freehold protection without the need for a local charity to be set up. This is where a local authority or other group donates a field to FIT then leases it back to ensure its protection without changing management or operation.

Find out about King George V.

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