Essex: Sports Clubs Get Lottery Funding
One thousand community facilities, including eight in Essex have now received a share of a National Lottery fund to help bolster grassroots sports.
The latest £16.6 million of funding, which can be used on anything from new playing surfaces to floodlights to better changing rooms, has been shared between 310 projects.
Chairman of Gyrus Olympic Gymnastics Club in Witham, Darren Norman, told Heart: "The money means that we can refresh all the equipment which is quite old. We can also extend some of the facilities with this unit which is our new home."
The Inspired Facilities fund is part of Sport England's Places People Play Olympic and Paralympic legacy programme.
Another £20 million will be up for grabs in two more funding rounds set to take place over the next 15 months.
The eight clubs in Essex which each received £50,000 are:
East Hanningfield and Great Burstead Cricket Club - This project is the construction of a new pavilion to replace the existing structurally unstable and dilapidated timber frame structure which is now beyond economical repair. The new pavilion will include clubroom, kitchen, games area, toilet, shower and changing facilities incl. disabled toilets and wheelchair access.
Walton & Frinton Yacht Club - The project aims to replace the central section of the existing 1920s club house with a 2 storey infill to increase toilet/changing facilities, provide a new kitchen, bar, dining and function rooms and to improve accessibility. The facility will then be used by club members, visiting clubs, young and disabled people, enabling the clubs expansion.
Gyrus Olympic Gymnastics Club, Witham - Project is to adapt factory unit to provide a dedicated gymnastics centre for club.
Belhus Cricket Club, Thurrock - Update and extend timber clubhouse to increase changing rooms, new showers and toilet block, new kitchen and flooring.
Hutton Cricket Club, Shenfield - Refurbish 2 away team changing rooms, repair roof, replace electrical wiring, upgrade toilets and refurbish kitchen.
Wickham Bishops Tennis Club - Project aims to build a new pavilion to replace the current wooden "shed like" facility, which is 40 years old, and is limiting the development of the club. The new pavilion will provide accessible indoor toilets and storage, as well as improved social and kitchen facilities, and secure external storage will be provided for sports equipment and maintenance tools.
Thames Rugby Football Club, Thurrock - The project aims to upgrade the clubhouse in order to prolong its lifespan, as well as to provide improved facilities to attract new members.
Describing demand as remaining "strong", Sport England chief executive Jennie Price said: "We have had such a fantastic response from sports clubs to Inspired Facilities that we've reached our target of making 1,000 grants a year early."
Sports minister Hugh Robertson said: "Six months on from the start of the London 2012 Games, we have extremely strong foundations in place for the sports legacy."