The additional funding is an extension to the organisation’s popular Inspired Facilities Olympic and Paralympic legacy fund. The fund is designed to bring improvements to local facilities, from ‘new playing surfaces to floodlights and better changing rooms’.
In the two years since the fund was made available 1,361 grassroots sports facilities have benefitted to a total of £69.9m being invested. During the announcement, Sport England highlighted three case study sports clubs (https://www.sportengland.org/news-and-features/news/2013/august/12/40-million-boost-for-grassroots-sports-clubs/) who have benefited:
- Warrington Gymnastics Club which will use £50,000 to move into and install kit at a new facility in the town
- Birmingham City Clubs for Young People which will use £50,000 to expand a popular boxing gym and put in female changing rooms
- Sheffield FC Futsal which has been awarded £48,299 to buy a portable futsal floor and create a high quality home for futsal in Sheffield.
If you are a sports club looking for investment in new facilities, Sport England is accepting bids for the next round of Inspired Facilities funding from the 21 October 2013. You can find out more at: www.sportengland.org/inspiredfacilities.