Sports clubs in Wealden have benefited from over £21,000 of Small and Capital Grants through the latest Wealden Community Grants scheme
Among the beneficiaries are The Stone Cross Royals, an expanding children’s football club which fields ten teams from under 5s to under 11s. They are to receive a Wealden Community Grant of £2,575.
“We are delighted to have received this funding,” said Darren Bland, Chairman of Stone Cross Royals. “It means we can continue to support the younger generation in our local area and help build a strong local community for the years ahead. We’re really grateful for the support of Wealden District Council.”
The funding will help the club deliver a safe environment for football for all age groups from u5s through to u11s’ providing them with the best equipment and facilities.
“We are now on the next journey of our adventure in trying to find some land that we can lease and turn in to football pitches so that the club has a base to run from. We now have over a 110 kids on our books and this number has just kept going up over two & half years,” said Darren.
Another beneficiary will be tennis in Uckfield. The nearest tennis club to the town is at Maresfield. A Community Grant of £2,910 will be used by the Uckfield Urban Tennis
Foundation to fund a practice wall, coaching and equipment for tennis at the Victoria Pleasure Grounds. The three tennis courts at the Pleasure Ground are currently being upgraded, thanks to the support of Uckfield Town Council, The
Lawn Tennis Association and Tennis Sussex. Urban Tennis Uckfield provides mini, reduced size and competition-sized tennis courts at the Victoria Pleasure Grounds. It hopes to run a range of coaching courses over the summer including primary school age children, 11-13 and 14-16 age groups, a young adults (16-18) session, sound tennis for the partially-sighted and exercise and tennis skills for the disadvantaged.
Simon Trott, Trustee of Urban Tennis Foundation said: “Placing revitalised courts at the heart of the community for all ages and abilities to enjoy is what this project has been about.
“Users are asked to purchase a key fob which will provide them with access to the courts all year round. The proceeds from this go to a sinking fund to ensure that these new courts stay in good condition for many years to come.”
This year’s Wealden Small and Capital Community Grants were three times over subscribed, which means some of the awards to clubs have had to be scaled down.
Hellingly Bowling Club is benefitting from a £6,500 capital grant for the repair of the clubs bowling ditches, and Nutley Tennis Club also receives a capital grant of £3,000 to repaint two tennis courts.
A wide range of other Wealden sports clubs have benefited from the latest Community Grants including Hailsham Hockey Club, who receive £2,825 to purchase new goals and Nutley Table Tennis Club, who receive £865 to pay for a coaching machine and other equipment.
Uckfield Anderida Cricket Club receive £920 to help with coaching for the under 15s, Hailsham Swimming Club receive £863 towards equipment and coaching costs and Colemans Hatch Bowling Club receive £700 to help upgrade the club’s ladies toilets.
