Wednesday 10 October 2007

Sportsability sessions earn a grand boost

Young people across the Borough of Redcar & Cleveland are cashing in thanks to two pots of funding that reward bright ideas.

The Council-run Youth Opportunity Fund and the Youth Capital Fund have allocated over £250,000 to 79 successful applications since the funds were launched at the start of the year - and there's still over £180,000 left to allocate.

The highest award in the latest round of grants went to the Saturday morning Sportsability Club, which attracts over 60 young people with physical and learning disabilities to Redcar Leisure Centre.

Co-ordinator Neil Young, a Council Sports Development Officer, has received £7,360 to improve equipment for the two groups, eight-16 year olds and 16 and over, who enjoy the two-hour sessions, from 10am-noon.

The California Youth Centre's plan to create an exciting new garden area at Eston has received £6,000 towards the project, which will be developed by Groundwork South Tees, while the Whale Hill Community Association's Youth Club has received £3,600 towards installing a dividing wall in the main hall and new sports kit.

The young carers project, The Junction at Redcar, has been granted £5,000 towards its activities and Connexions, Redcar has received over £2,300 to enrol eight young people as Middlesbrough Angling Club members, provide them with fishing equipment and coarse angling licences.

Guisborough Town Football Club's expansion plans, running teams for under 10s to under 18s, has received a £2,000 grant and the "Overbeck" youth inclusion project, who are creating a public artwork at the Allendale shopping parade at Overfields, was given £2,000.

A panel of young people is meeting every month until the end of next March to examine applications for 13-19 year olds, assessing under four categories - sport, culture, recreation or volunteering, according to the five principles of Every Child Matters - staying safe, being healthy, enjoying and achieving, economic wellbeing and making a positive contribution.

The Youth Opportunity Fund wants to involve young people, especially hard-to-reach young people, in identifying positive activities, places to go and things to do. The Youth Capital Fund aims to enhance existing provision or establish new youth provision for young people, with individual grants, up to £400 or group grants.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Where will this equipment bought for Sportsability Club go after March if Coalition plans to demolish bowl proceed?