FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The London Marathon Charitable Trust awards £600,000 in new grants
The London Marathon Charitable Trust (The Trust) has today announced new
grants totalling £603,800 to improve facilities that will enable thousands
of people in London and Surrey to participate in physical activity.
The Trust, which has now awarded more than £89 million since its founding
in 1981, is committed to helping inspire activity across the UK.
Many of the facilities awarded funding in this latest round of grants
provide opportunities to participate in outdoor activities, which are of
heightened relevance given the impact the current Covid-19 pandemic is
having on physical activity provision.
Sir Rodney Walker, Chairman of The Trust, said: "The Trust has a vision of
a society in which everyone is physically active which contributes to their
health and wellbeing. The Covid-19 pandemic is a great threat to this
vision but during these difficult and troubling times for us all, physical
activity has never been so important. Not just for our physical health, but
for our mental health, too.
"We are proud of the work we do to provide funds to encourage activity and
this latest round of grants will enable more communities to enjoy physical
activity."
Twelve organisations have been awarded grants through The Trust's
Facilities Grants Programme, including:
£150,000 to Folio Education Trust towards two floodlit outdoor netball
courts in an accessible sports and community facility at the new Coombe
Wood School in South Croydon, which will provide opportunities for women
and girls of all ages and abilities to play netball.
£100,000 to Addlestone Canoe Club towards a new building and headquarters
for the club in Surrey which will include modern and accessible changing
facilities, enabling existing programmes to be extended so more people,
including under-represented groups, can participate in paddling and
canoeing opportunities all year round.
£20,000 to Wheels for Wellbeing to purchase adapted cycles and the
additional equipment needed to hold inclusive cycling sessions in the
London Borough of Croydon for people of all ages and abilities.
£18,500 to Socco Cheta Community Hub towards renovating the main hall at
this new community hub in the London Borough of Croydon, which will provide
a new affordable and inclusive sports and exercise facility with a wide
range of activities for the local community.
For the full list of grants, see the table below.
Jonathan Wilden, CEO at Folio Education Trust, said: "We are thrilled that
The London Marathon Charitable Trust has chosen to support our new school
build, Coombe Wood School. The funding of two new netball courts will not
only provide outstanding facilities for our students but working with
Roundwood Netball Club we will be able to raise participation of netball in
the local community for all ages and abilities."
Carol Reeves, Chairperson at Addlestone Canoe Club, said: "Addlestone Canoe
Club is delighted The London Marathon Charitable Trust has been able to
support our project, enabling us to engage more participants in Paddlesport
activities, with an emphasis of a fun, healthy, active lifestyle for all.
This grant will secure the future of the club and its community outreach
for many years to come."
Isabelle Clement, Director at Wheels for Wellbeing, said: "Wheels for
Wellbeing is extremely grateful to have been awarded a grant which will
enable us to welcome more participants, in particular people who cannot
transfer out of their wheelchairs or who need the support of someone else
in order to feel the wind in their hair. Ultimately, this grant means that
more disabled people in South London will be able experience the joy of
cycling."
Laura Whittall, Project Lead for Socco Cheta Community Hub, said: "We are
very thankful to The London Marathon Charitable Trust for awarding us this
funding. This is a vital project in our community that will enable local
people to access an inclusive and diverse range of sports and physical
activities to support their health and wellbeing."
The full list of Facilities Grants announced by The Trust:
Location Award
Grantee
Description
London Boroughs Croydon £150,000.00
Folio Education Trust
Towards two newly built floodlit outdoor netball courts which will be part
of the new Coombe Wood School in South Croydon opening in 2020. The new
courts are part of an accessible sports and community facility that will
support an increase in female pupils participating in netball, and the
school will work with local clubs to support community activity programmes
encouraging more women and girls to become and remain physically active
through playing netball.
London Boroughs Newham £147,000.00
Mary Ward Settlement
Towards a dedicated teaching room for fitness activities and a flexible
dance/performance space at Queensway House in Stratford (the new home of
the Mary Ward Settlement from 2021). The large, fully accessible spaces
will enable an increase in the number and range of classes to encourage
people from the local community, particularly those from under-represented
groups including women and girls, BAME groups, disabled people, the over
60s and people with long term health conditions, to take part in dance and
movement classes and become physically active.
Surrey Runnymede Borough Council £100,000.00
Addlestone Canoe Club
Towards a new building and headquarters for Addlestone Canoe Club that will
provide modern, accessible facilities for use by the local community, with
The Trust funding new separate changing facilities, accessible toilets and
the kitchen refurbishment. The new facilities will enable the club to:
improve their indoor space, provide canoeing and paddling opportunities all
year round, and build on existing programmes to encourage more people from
under-represented groups, including women and girls and disabled people, to
participate and become physically active.
Surrey Elmbridge £50,000.00
Elmbridge Active
Towards facility improvements at Cobham Centre, Lower Green Centre, Molesey
Centre and Walton Centre to encourage older people, people with a learning
disability and carers to participate in outdoor activities to improve their
health, wellbeing, independence and social connectedness.
Surrey Epsom & Ewell Borough Council £50,000.00
Girls' Learning Trust (formerly Nonsuch & Wallington Education Trust) T/A
Nonsuch High School for Girls
Towards the refurbishment of the sand dressed all weather hockey pitch at
Nonsuch High School (part of the Girls' Learning Trust). The project will
provide an up-to-date surface to develop and expand its community use;
additional renewal of the facilities will also see a new team shelter
erected, new hockey and football goals added and installation of a new
security fence to help contain ball play.
London Boroughs £20,000.00
Croydon Wheels for Wellbeing
Towards adapted cycles and additional equipment required for Wheels for
Wellbeing to provide inclusive cycling sessions for people of all ages and
abilities.
London Boroughs Croydon £18,500.00
Socco Cheta Community Hub
Towards renovating the main hall at the Socco Cheta Community Hub including
installing new flooring and doors, improving accessibility and purchasing
fixed equipment such as basketball hoops and exercise chairs, to provide a
new affordable and inclusive sports and exercise facility with a wide range
of activities for the local community.
London Boroughs Tower Hamlets £18,000.00
Poplar HARCA
Towards installing new play equipment to develop the Burdett Play Garden
including a nest swing, climbing equipment and a loop for riding bikes
round, creating new safe play opportunities for children aged 3 – 13 years,
living in or going to school near the Burdett Estate in Mile End.
London Boroughs Redbridge £15,300.00
ELHAP Adventure Playground
Towards refurbishing the indoor soft play facility at ELHAP Adventure
Playground, to enable children and young people with disabilities to have
all-year round access to play opportunities in a stimulating and safe
environment.
London Boroughs Bromley £15,000.00
Petts Wood Football Club
Towards dressing, levelling and reseeding the grass pitches at Petts Wood
Football Club bringing numerous pitches back into use and providing
opportunities for people of all ages to participate in physical activity.
London Boroughs Islington £15,000.00
Islington Boat Club
Towards renewing the fleet at Islington Boat Club by purchasing new
kayaks/canoes, allowing the Club to continue their work in reducing
barriers to participating in water-based activities, particularly amongst
target groups including isolated people over 50 and children and young
people with learning disabilities.
London Boroughs Southwark £5,000.00
Coin Street Centre Trust
Towards refurbishing the community studio at the Colombo Street Sports and
Community Centre, to enable a wide range of activities, including free
youth gym sessions, to be held in a modern space with a greater capacity.
This round of funding was awarded in early March 2020. Since then, the
significant uncertainty brought about by the unfolding Covid-19 pandemic
has meant The Trust has made the difficult decision to not accept any new
applications to the Facilities Grants Programme for the time being. This is
a temporary measure and it is hoped the Programme will be re-open again to
new applications soon. For further details visit lmct.org.uk which will be
updated regularly with any new information.
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