More residents to enjoy sports as first grants issued and second round of applications invited

With this year’s first round of funding awarded, more clubs and organisations are invited to apply for the second round before Friday 27 October.

A total £16,790 grants have been awarded to clubs which will be offering affordable or free sessions to people who might find it hard to pay for them, or find a club where they’re comfortable.

A number of sports clubs will benefit from the first round of grants, and each will undergo training for mental health awareness in sport. The successful clubs include:

• Henry’s Gym will provide a free boxing sessions for children and young people to help increase participation in sports, improve their health and provide positive role models. Besides drop-in sessions with light refreshments for six weeks, they’ll have full use of the gym including coaching and classes.

• Poppleton Road Playgroup which will offer free Rugbytots sessions to local families. They will support children’s listening skills, how to follow instructions, working together and sharing.

• Queer Yoga North CIC is going to offer regular yoga sessions for LGBTQIA+ people, trans and non-binary people to support better mental health through physical exercise in a supportive environment.

• Wigginton Table Tennis Club will roll out a ‘Stand Like a Goalie!’ table tennis development programme for children and young adults. They can learn new skills, improve fitness, meet friends and have fun through this inclusive programme.

• York Futsal Club will offer participants from ethnic minorities athletic bursaries to apply for, plus access to an academy team, regular training and competing in national and regional games. They’ll also be able to access sports therapy opportunities not often found in youth teams.

• York Inspirational Kids will offer dance classes for disabled and/or autistic children and young people to support them to be more active.

Councillor Jo Coles, Executive Member for Health, Adult Social Care and Culture at City of York Council, said:

“We are committed to reducing health inequalities across the city and doing as much as we can to support people during the cost of living crisis. These small grants are designed to make sport and activity more accessible so that everyone across the city can take part.

“At a time when we know budgets are tight and in the next round of grants, we’d particularly like to allocate funding to groups supporting people who find it difficult to afford sport and activity.”

Please apply for the second round of grants at www.york.gov.uk/SmallGrantsFund before Friday 27 October. Successful applicants will have their grants issued in November 2023.