Local sports clubs win huge grant
Ten local sports clubs and organisations have won £12,500 after successfully bidding for a grant from Canterbury City Council.
The Active Sports Grant helps to increase participation in sport locally across Canterbury and nearby areas, and it will allow those involved to invest in new equipment and to take part in more of their respective activities.
The council’s Commercial and Cultural Development Manager Michelle Moubarak believes the scheme encouraged a variety of sports, and that the quality deserved more than the amount originally intended.
She said: “We had lots of interest in these sports grants, and such was the quality of the applications, we ended up awarding more than the £10,000 we originally had available.
“What was particularly good to see was the range of sports covered in the bids, and that people of all ages will be able to benefit from the grants. We’re looking forward to seeing the various projects coming to fruition.”
Congratulations to the 10 local sports clubs and organisations, including @hbarc (pictured), that have successfully bid for one of our Active Sports Grants. In total, £12,500 has been awarded for new activities or investment in equipment. More info: https://t.co/6yrGAM296b pic.twitter.com/e0ZE64A8BA
— Canterbury City Council (@canterburycc) March 19, 2019
Andrea Lewis is the Business Manager at the FAR Academy, one of the ten beneficiaries of the grant, and she believes it will help the club in both the short and the long-term.
She said: “Receiving the grant has enabled us to purchase new helmets and pads for skaters to borrow and enough skateboards for everyone who just wants to give it a go. We have also purchased some more materials to build new kicker ramps.
“We have been able to reach so many more young people and families and our membership has grown immensely since we have been able to advertise and promote our sporting facilities.
“The response and uptake has been amazing, we have new people coming every week to join the FAR Skate Club which is fantastic and in turn creating a great feeling of inclusion and a positive community spirit.”
The beneficiaries are:
- Herne Bay Amateur Rowing Club – £1,500 to buy new equipment to help new members start off in the sport
- Prince of Wales youth club, Canterbury – £1,500 for equipment and coaching sessions for staff to run regular sports coaching at youth sessions
- Active Life – £1,500 for a Friday night light project providing football sessions for young people in Herne Bay Memorial Park
- East Kent schools – £425 for a ‘big splash’ one day event for 14 and 15-year-olds to work on swimming pool life-saving and first aid skills
- Canterbury Bike Project – £1,500 for a volunteers project to build 15 bikes to hire out to the community to encourage greater participation in cycling
- Far Academy, Whitstable – £1,500 to buy equipment to enable more people to take part in their Saturday skate club
- Saxon Shore walking netball – £609 for new equipment for walking netball for the over 50s in Herne Bay and Whitstable
- Stepping Stones Pre-school – £1,188 to produce sports bags containing a variety of items of equipment to encourage families to be more active
- City of Canterbury Rhythmic Gymnastics Club – £1,300 for new mats and to offer free taster sessions for local children
- Barham Football Club – £1,500 for new football posts to allow matches to be played in their own area