10 grassroots sports clubs in Cumbria share in £2.3 million Olympic legacy boost

January 24, 2013

Sport England’s Inspired Facilities Olympic and Paralympic legacy fund supports 1,000^th local facility – 12 months ahead of schedule.
Latest investments see £2.3 million National Lottery funding going to 46 sports groups across theNorth West
10 clubs in Cumbriareceive 25.6% of the region’s Inspired Facilities investment in this round

There are 10 sports clubs in Cumbria celebrating London 2012 legacy investments from Sport England to improve local sports facilities. £2.3 million of National Lottery funding has today been awarded to sports projects in the North West, with £590,662 of the funding being received by sports clubs in Cumbria. These recent announcements take the number of facilities supported by Inspired Facilities to more than 1,000 – one year ahead of schedule with 25 inCumbria. The investments improve local facilities, create new venues for grassroots sport and in some cases allow local clubs to buy the facilities they use.

The fund is part of Sport England’s Places People Play Olympic and Paralympic legacy programme and all improved facilities carry the London 2012 Inspire mark – celebrating the link to the Games.

Sport England’s Chair, Richard Lewis, said: “This National Lottery investment is helping us deliver a lasting sporting legacy in the area from last year’s successful Olympic and Paralympic Games. With so many clubs in Cumbria having benefitted from this fund already and building on the success of last summer, this is the legacy people want for their local community.”

Active Cumbria Senior Manager, Bruce Lawson, said: “This latest funding announcement is fantastic news for sport in Cumbria. The grant awards for these 10 organisations are supporting facility project developments valued at over £1.8 million. What’s even more encouraging is to see the overall investment from this and previous Inspired Facilities awards. To date Cumbria has secured over £1.37 million of awards realising £3.6 million worth of facility developments across 25 projects in Cumbria.

With two more funding rounds opening later this year to support potential projects, we at Active Cumbria are keen to ensure that our communities are afforded the very best that facilities can provide.”

Six months on from the start of the Olympics, today’s milestone is further evidence of the steps being taken to build on the momentum of 2012:

Last week Sport England launched a new £40 million fund to help local sports projects
Last month £493 million was committed to 46 sports over the next four years
15.5 million people are now playing sport every week, more than ever before.
More people in Cumbria are playing sport every week since the Olympic bid was won in 2005

The 10 Cumbrian projects awarded Lottery funding from Inspired Facilities today are:

£30,000 to upgrade and make improvements to the main hall at Threlkeld Village Hall.
£21,558 to renovate the sports hall at Kendal Lads & Girls Club.
£49,980 to assist the restoration of the outdoor community swimming pool at Greystoke.
£41,360 to upgrade changing rooms and refurbish the gym at Kells ARLFC.
£50,000 to demolish and rebuild changing rooms at Barrow Island ARLFC allowing them to open up the facility to the public as well as club members.
£27,271 to develop an extension to the Brockbeck MUGA, Kirkbarrow.
23,750 to make repair work at Seaton Rugby League clubhouse.
£46,743 to refurbish changing facilities and enhancements to flood protection at Keswick Rugby Club.
£150,000 towards the development of an athletics track at Furness Academy.
£150,000 to upgrade the changing facilities at Sedbergh Pool.