Dorset grassroots sports getting Government cash
It's part of a national funding pot totalling £93 million
More than 1,100 grassroots sport projects across the UK are to benefit from £93 million of Government funding, including many in Dorset.
It's part of a 'continued drive to get more people active', with the aim of providing more high-quality local sports facilities.
Sports Minister Stuart Andrew said:
“Sport and physical activity are vital to our mental health and wellbeing, and each year thousands of people make a New Year's resolution to exercise more.
“We know one of the major barriers to getting active is having access to high-quality sports facilities, which is why we are investing in 1,100 more projects, backed by £93 million.
“This government has delivered thousands of new projects across the UK with the aim of getting over 120,000 more people to get active, helping us to make big strides towards meeting our ambitious target of 3.5 million more people active by 2030.”
Here, the projects getting cash include:
- Bournemouth Electric FC - £986 for new goalposts
- Wool and Winfrith FC - £1,080 for new goalposts
- Mudeford Phoenix Girls FC - £1,440 for new goalposts
- Merley Cobham Sports Youth FC - £1,575 for new goalposts
- PSE Youth, Pelhams Park - £1,950 for new goalposts
- Phoenix Youth, Pelhams Park - £2,621 for new floodlights
- Poole Borough FC - £3,555 for new floodlights
- Bere Regis FC - £3,713 for fencing
- Gillingham Town Youth FC - £3,960 for new goalposts
- Poole Town FC Wessex - £4,307 for new floodlights
- Dorset County FA - £6,600 for new goalposts
- Sturminster Newton United FC - £12,746 for a new grass pitch and maintenance equipment
- Rossmore Leisure Centre - £438,612 for a new artificial pitch and changing rooms upgrades
- Bournemouth University - £1,723,253 for a new artificial pitch and changing rooms upgrades
The Government’s Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme is investing in areas that are most in need of new or renovated facilities, with at least 50% of the investment to be spent in the most deprived local authorities with high levels of inactivity.
Through the programme more high quality facilities are being made available for people to play football, rugby and other grassroots sports.
Since 2021, the Government, along with its partners, have helped deliver new facilities or improvements at almost 2,400 sites across the UK aiming to get at least 120,000 more people active, through the £325 million programme.
This investment is supporting grassroots clubs up and down the country, including women’s and girls teams.
It also follows the Government and The FA announcing an additional £30 million to build 30 new state of the art 3G pitches and facilities to prioritise women’s and girls’ teams across England, following the Lionesses success at UEFA EURO 2022, and the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.
Robert Sullivan, CEO, Football Foundation said:
“This year, the Football Foundation will provide more great places to play than ever before.
“Thanks to investment from the Premier League, The FA and Government we will deliver better pitches ensuring healthier lives and stronger communities.”
The Government recently published its new sport strategy to get 2.5 million more adults and one million more young people meeting the Chief Medical Officer’s guidance of 150 minutes of exercise per week for adults, and 60 minutes per day for young people by 2030.