We’re delighted to announce that the following organisations and people have received grassroots funding to support kit and equipment for their members in 2022:
These local organisations are crucial to providing alternative activities in supporting children and adults in sport and recreation, and in some instances, support work around the safety of vulnerable people. We are keen to support more in 2023.
To apply for funding, please download our form here.
Trustees Albert Jones and Graham Plant present cheque to Retro Skating Academy
Retro Skating Academy is our latest applicant to receive funding for their new venue. Retro Skating Academy will soon provide top GB training with more British Artistic Roller Skating Champions than anywhere else in the country. Their club is also a safe, secure place in the heart of the community for all, and has many skaters who are registered disabled who thrive in an inclusive, encouraging team environment.
GY Sporting Academy CIC, who manages the Academy has used a grant from Sport England towards the total project cost for the conversion and operation of a building. A building has been converted with ample parking for locals and visitors, which can grow the base of skaters to enable them to become a viable not for profit business able to sustain themselves into the future.
Commenting on the funding, Graham Plant, Chairman of Great Yarmouth Sport & Leisure Trust, said "Our purpose is to encourage positive activity in the borough, and for us, Retro Skating Academy has the potential to be a UK leading operation that benefits the community on many levels. We can also see greater benefits for the area and cultural benefits for young and older visitors who would attend galas all year round.”
Emma Parrott, Chairperson, Retro Skating Academy, explained, "Great Yarmouth has some challenging health demographics and we are championing the importance of physical activity for a healthy lifestyle. The SEND community is keen to set up an additional needs Roller Skating club, and we currently have many SEND members who thrive on routine and repetitive training. The events will be the most significant revenue for the Academy, and with GB Skate Artistic already committing to several events per year plus GB squad training, it's a positive and reassuring start for the Academy."
We’re delighted to announce that the following organisations and people have received grassroots funding to support kit and equipment for their members in 2021:
Great Yarmouth Martial Arts
Martham Cricket Club
Sweeney Sports Club
Engage Sports Coaching
Yarmouth United Football Club
Great Yarmouth Children's Theatre
Dragon's Stage and Theatre School
Caister United Football Club
PT Pete
Isabella's Dance and Musical Theatre Company
Broadway Bella's
DPA Dance Academy
Hopton Harriers and
Martham Football Club.
These local organisations are crucial to providing alternative activities in supporting children and adults in sport and recreation, and in some instances, support work around the safety of vulnerable people.
The borough has shown incredible resilience in the past 18 months. We are indebted to the volunteers for their commitment and enthusiasm to pick up and bring the community together and are keen to support more in 2022.
To apply for funding, please download our form here.
DURING THE COVID-19 CRISIS, WE ARE STILL ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS.
We are delighted to announce another round of funding awarded pre-lockdown for June 2020. The very talented and dedicated team at East Anglia Gymnastics.
Running since March 2019, they run gymnastics classes for all ages and abilities with a current, 230 members!
The funding provided has contributed towards Acropad air slopes. These help with forward and backwards walkovers, hand springs, flicks, ariels and other acro tricks.
Having this standard of kit helps us attract older children to stay in sport and keep active into adulthood. This will mean the gymnasts can achieve skills they haven’t previously been able to; and all of our club members love using it!
"Our vision is to help children build confidence and achieve things they once didn’t think was possible and with your help we will be one step closer to achieving their goals." ~ Benjamin Walker, Director.
You can follow the team on Facebook and Instagram and we are hoping to see some of those acro tricks in motion soon.
If you are part of an amazing team in our borough and would like to apply for up to £500 of funding, we are taking applications for awarding in September 2020.
We’ve been working hard over the past year to reach communities, teams and individuals in the borough of Great Yarmouth, and need your help to reach more. The Trust has granted funds to football clubs, basketball teams, gymnastics clubs, boxing clubs, schools, running groups and carers in the community encouraging the community to get active. The funds are for kit, equipment, marketing costs or maintenance of facilities.
To give an idea of how our funding has helped in our borough, we have collated those who have successfully received grants. We hope you enjoy reading the full stories.
Flegg High Parkrun: We are pleased to announce that we have supported what we hope will be a fabulous venture: the Flegg High parkrun. To set up a parkrun requires funds, so whilst we have provided funding, we would love to help them reach their target with your support.
Spartans Amateur Boxing Club: The grant was used to purchase specialist equipment that allows young boxers to compete to required AIBA equipment standards. These items will allow all their boxers to compete at the highest level and at national boxing events.
"The funding is a fantastic contribution to the club as it will be spent on extra equipment for the ever-growing number of young children joining Spartans ABC."
“The funding bought boxing gloves and head-guards so more members can be involved in boxing shows.”
Yarmouth Football Club: Funding to support a new girls football club will increase opportunities for younger girls to get active in Great Yarmouth. The planned purchase list includes cones, bibs, balls and a new training software called ‘dribble up’, which is a fun and interactive way of developing ball skills.
“Having the money to invest in training facilities allows us to attract more local young people as we can provide high quality football coaching that is engaging and specific to their needs.”
East Norfolk Sixth form Basketball offers great sporting opportunities. Football is a big part of the college, and they are looking to diversify to attract other students into a different sport. The college is trying to grow the Basketball Club, which currently has between 12-15 students who regularly take part in Basketball training sessions at the college.
The grant will be for new branded kit as the team are now playing in regular fixtures, but only have an old very limited basketball kit. The grant will also help to provide the team with new balls for matches and training sessions. This means the small team can grow next year as the new equipment and kit will help to recruit new players from September 2019.
Hopton Primary School PTA: The children were playing football matches in their PE kit, and it was felt that funding for proper kit would encourage those who don't participate in sport to do so outside of school hours. Some families can't commit to rigid training and games being held at the weekends. These children would have the opportunity of belonging to a school team, and the proper kits would help achieve this.
Mr Petersen from the school said: “The 'buzz' around football games is palpable with children so keen to know which number they are going to have and where they are going to play. The children look so smart, and it has made a difference in their confidence and sense of belonging."
Air Training Corps No 221: is a charity connected to the Royal Air Force. The squadron helps young people aged 12-21 to become better leaders, sportspeople and promote a spirit of adventure. The 29 members are mainly from the local area of Great Yarmouth.
"We had an old outdated batch of t-shirts to play sports in. With new sportswear we can encourage more members from the community to join, and it will increase team spirit and motivation."
With new kit, the group will actively push more sporting activities weekly to encourage a healthier lifestyle and promote wellbeing.
Willow Tree Works provides a variety of activities for adults and children with additional needs. The activities include gardening, catering, DIY skills development and fitness and healthy eating programmes. Willow Tree Works is setting up a new fitness class which is open to learners and the wider community. The funds from GYSLT will provide specific fitness equipment for a new fitness session. The learners have access to a developing selection of activities which gives them a sense of purpose, increasing their skills base and allowing them to integrate not only with their peers but also working towards a healthier lifestyle.
Caister Football Club: Received an extra boost to its attempts to improve the playing field with a £500 award from Great Yarmouth Sport and Leisure Trust. This award maximised Caister FCs fundraising efforts to purchase their own ground maintenance equipment enabling people of all ages and abilities to participate in football nearer to home.
Shrublands Junior Football Club: Shrublands JFC is a youth football club with 200+ members including one of a few girls’ teams in the area. The club was fundraising for new equipment to maintain the community club for 3-16 year olds. If you look closely, you can see the Great Yarmouth Sport and Leisure Trust logo on this brilliant team of under 14s at the Shrublands Football Club in Gorleston.
“Fantastic investment into our club meaning we can replace old kit with new, we can't thank you enough” said the club’s spokesperson.
Tai Chi for health NORSUF Running Group: Established in 2016 NORSUF Running Group is a free and friendly welcoming environment for new runners. You do not have to be a runner or achieve any standard to join; everyone takes part their way.
With funding from Great Yarmouth Sport and Leisure Trust they were able to train two volunteer Run Leaders allowing them to offer more opportunities to join our group over a wider area around the borough. Those volunteers have now completed their training and are just awaiting their licence from England Athletics before they set up groups in Caister, Bradwell and Gorleston!
Southtown Primary School teaches 220 pupils in Great Yarmouth. We were very happy to support their application for football kit for all ages as it helps children participate far more in competitions and inter-school events.
The school want to increase self-confidence as it gives all children a chance to play. Having a professional looking kit can’t be underestimated for children’s pride and motivation.
Nuno in Year said “We feel proud to represent our school in our new kits. We all looked smart and it made us play better!”
East Norfolk Gymnastics Club: We were thrilled to have been able to push East Norfolk Gymnastics Club up to the funding amount they needed to buy new equipment.
They're a community-based gymnastics club, teaching both boys and girls from the age of 5 up to 18 years old. They have 75 members and a waiting list of over 200. The funding we've contributed to helped to buy a new set of asymmetrical bars. The old bars were over 20 years old and unable to be adjusted which they need to be able to do. The new equipment will help the gymnasts to perform greater skills and linking moves between the bars with greater confidence, which will help them when they compete in competitions.
Revolutionary Roots: A Youth and Community Group working on various projects across the borough of Great Yarmouth. The group applied to the Trust for funds towards sports equipment which will aid holistically against substance abuse, anti-social behaviour and criminal activity.
As well as working with mainstream young people the charity also helps other members of the community by: Working with young people to get involved in sport and physical activity and lessening boredom and anti-social behaviour, instead empowering towards personal development
The charities ethos is about running cost effective sessions across the borough, and the funding has enabled them to offer sessions out to other groups to utilise their equipment with the instructor.
If you are part of an amazing sports team or an individual and would like to apply for up to £500 of funding, then we are taking applications for awarding in May 2020.
Sport England have published the results of a survey which shows that around 3 million children (43.3%) lead active lives, however of that group, only 1.2 million (17.5%) are meeting the Chief Medical Officer’s guidelines of more than 60 minutes of activity a day, every day of the week.
Sports Minister Mims Davies said: "While it is encouraging that 3 million children do at least an average of 60 minutes of sport or physical activity every day, the number of young people who are not doing enough is simply unacceptable.
"We know that an active child is a happier child and efforts must be stepped up to encourage young people to live healthy, active lives and I know that Sport England are committed to making progress in this area.
"Our School Sport and Activity Action Plan will also ensure that all children have access to quality PE, sport sessions and clubs. Together with the sport sector, parents and our local communities, we must build a comprehensive and cross Government offer to create a truly active nation."
Public Health England's head of diet, obesity and physical activity, Dr Alison Tedstone, added: “Physical activity is crucial for good physical and mental health of children and young people - this work is a timely reminder for everyone to do more to help them be more active.”
We’re seeking teams, clubs and individuals in the borough of Great Yarmouth who need funding to help get or keep us active. Please spread the word.
Research by Activity Alliance has shown that disabled people are twice as likely to be inactive as non-disabled people, but 70 per cent of disabled people want to be more active.
Psychological barriers play the biggest role in preventing disabled people from taking part in sports, however seven out of ten disabled people WANT to be more active. One in five people in Britain have an impairment - that's 11.5m disabled people.
Having an active lifestyle can have many advantages. Regular physical exercise provides social benefits and mental health improvements, including:
We can't find many opportunities in our area on the Active Alliance website - can you set up a club or a group in the borough of Great Yarmouth?
With Disability Awareness Day around the corner (July 15), now is the time to apply for your funding - the application form is here. Please get involved!
Information sourced from Active Alliance website.
Charity No. 1114561
