The application process for a £100m fund to support cash strapped arms length leisure providers has finally opened, almost two months after it was first announced, but there are concerns the money cannot be used to plug significant Covid-related losses sustained during the course of the year. The National Leisure Recovery Fund, which is being delivered by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, was first announced on 22 October as part of the fourth tranche of funding for councils which was worth a total of £1bn. Concerns have been raised to LGC that the fund will not be backdated to plug existing funding holes built up from losses sustained by leisure providers since the pandemic hit in March. It is instead intended to fund additional services going forwards, helping to meet the additional costs of operating their services between 1 December 2020 and 31 March 2021.