Vale of Clwyd MP Dr James Davies has welcomed a £32,150 investment to transform sports facilities in Rhyl and get more people active and nurture future sporting talent.
It was announced on Saturday that 1,700 new and improved multi-sports grassroots facilities are benefiting from £68 million from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, and James is very pleased that Ffordd Derwen Playing Fields in Rhyl is one of them.
An application was submitted by NFA Football for grass pitch maintenance on the playing fields and their successful bid means they are set to receive the substantial sum of £25,302 towards the total.
Welcoming the news, James said:
“Grassroots facilities are essential for nurturing future sporting talent and encouraging people to get active, benefiting their physical and mental wellbeing.
“That is why I welcome the funding from HM Government which will see Rhyl benefit from £32,150 to improve our local sports facilities and help more people access them.
“Helping people get active is key to delivering on the Prime Minister’s priority to cut NHS waiting lists by encouraging people to live healthier lives and become more engaged in sport.
"This funding comes from the latest allocations of a £300 million UK-wide capital investment in grassroots facilities to deliver upgrades, improvements and new pitches – making more high-quality facilities available for people to play football, hockey and other grassroots sports.
"At least 50 per cent of investment will be spent in underprivileged areas to give as many people as possible the opportunity to take part in sport. This programme will also ensure particular focus on increasing participation among underrepresented groups such as women and girls, and those with a disability."
The funding announced today follows £5m allocated earlier this year from the Government’s Youth Justice Sports Fund, which also benefited the Vale of Clwyd, with both West Rhyl Young People’s Project and Youth Shedz Ltd receiving a slice of the funding.
Youth Shedz is an award-winning initiative, started in Denbigh, that provides a safe place for young people to explore who they are and develop and learn new skills. It received £15,637.60 from the fund.
West Rhyl Young People’s Project, a local charity that provides informal education, youth group activities and one to one support for children and young people, received £11,463.59.
James said:
“This money was allocated to organisations running local sports that help keep vulnerable young people from crime and anti-social behaviour.
“Whilst the number of children caught up in crime is at a historical low - falling by 81 per cent since 2010 - youth crime still costs the taxpayer £1.5 billion a year.
“Sport and mentoring can be a powerful tool in turning young lives around and I am delighted that two organisations in my constituency have received funding to help them achieve this here in Denbighshire.”
The £5m pot of money builds on the government’s existing support for local authorities’ Youth Offending Teams nationwide - which has seen over £730 million worth of funding provided in the last 5 years.
