Vale of Clwyd MP Dr James Davies is keen to make local sports clubs aware of UK Government funding available to help them transform their facilities.
The Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme is investing over £300 million between 2021 and 2025 to level up access to sport and physical activity across Britain. A separate £30m collaborative investment is taking place with the Lawn Tennis Association to improve park tennis courts across the country.
In total, £111 million has been invested in 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 to improve grass and artificial pitches, changing rooms, clubhouses and floodlights, to make a real difference to communities across the UK.
A further £191 million of government funding over the next two years will provide spaces for people to get active, whatever their background and wherever they live, and James is encouraging clubs in the Vale of Clwyd to apply.
As well as larger grants for new 4G pitches etc., smaller grants up to £30,000 are also available through the ‘Fit-For-Future Equipment Fund’, covering essential equipment from goalposts to pitch maintenance equipment. The application process for this opened this month (June) and will close on July 17th 2023.
Meanwhile, the application window for the ‘Fit-For-Future Facilities Programme’, for large and small grants up to £300,000 to support capital projects – from grass-pitch improvements to changing room developments – will re-open in October 2023.
James said:
“This is a fantastic opportunity for sports clubs in the area and I urge them to apply for the latest round of funding.
“The programme provides funding to make essential facility improvements, so that communities have a high-quality pitch to play on, and is a clear demonstration of the government’s commitment to levelling up all corners of the United Kingdom.
“Rhe smaller grants available through the Fit-For-Future Equipment Fund are ideal for any clubs struggling to raise the funds for any equipment they may need.
“Earlier this year I welcomed news that Ffordd Derwen Playing Fields in Rhyl had benefited in the first round of the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme, receiving £25,302 towards the total cost of £32,150 for grass pitch maintenance on the playing fields.
“It would be great to see other clubs in the area receiving funding to improve their facilities too.”
In Wales, the money is being distributed via the Football Association of Wales, who are managing the process and will then allocate to projects across Wales.
Additionally, in October 2021, UK Government announced a £30m funding package to refurbish 4500 public tennis courts across the UK.
This consists of £22m from the Government and £8.4m from the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA).
The funds will be delivered over two years and onward grants are being provided to local authorities based on a needs assessment conducted by the LTA.
Delivery of the funding has now begun and two projects in Wales have been funded to date – including the Norway Drive Recreation Ground in Wrexham.
For further information on the funding available through the Fit-For-Future Facilities Programme and/or the Fit-For-Future Equipment Fund, or to download an application form, visit Funding - Cymru Football Foundation (faw.cymru). Applications are welcomed from local authorities, clubs and community organisations. To enquire regarding the tennis court funding, please email [email protected].
