Ladies' soccer team's Community Chest Grant Award (From Penarth Times)

Ladies' soccer team's Community Chest Grant Award

DINAS POWYS Football Club (Ladies Section) is one of the latest recipients of a Vale of Glamorgan Community Chest Award.

Already running hugely successful junior and senior teams and endeavouring to develop new opportunities for girls and women, the club received £750 to help establish a new team in the South Wales League.

Thanks to the scheme, grass roots sport benefits to the tune of £45,000 a year in the Vale, and the awards panel has already distributed more than £30,000 worth of grants to local clubs this year and more than £100,000 in the last three years.

Consisting of local sports co-ordinators, the panel was set up in partnership with the Sports Council for Wales and the Vale Council, and its primary aim is to help local sports organisations develop and improve participation opportunities and performance standards.

Grants can range between £50 and £750 and are awarded to help clubs purchase equipment, develop coaches, promote and market club activities and establish new junior sections.

Other grants awarded at the last meeting included:

Victoria (Penarth) Primary School (£750 - coach education, storage box, mats and vaulting equipment).

Barry Beavers Disabled Swimming Club (£686.75 - coach education and transport costs). Barry Ladies Hockey Club (£750 - coach education, SAQ equipment, storage boxes and goalkeeping set).

Penarth Lacrosse Club (£750 - umpiring courses, coach education, stick, jerseys and protective pads).

St Helen's (Barry) Primary School (£463 - coach education, first aid equipment and footballs).

Barry Disability Multi Sports Club (£749.54 - coach education, hall hire, coach fees, mini tennis set, Kwik cricket set, indoor curling set, cones and foam sabres).

Llantwit Major Tae Kwon Do (£750 - coach education and refereeing, and competition umpire training).

Rhoose Lifeguard Club (£712 - surf ski and three paddles).

Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan Cricket Coaches Association (£750 - coach education and junior equipment).

Penarth Primary School Netball League (£682.80 - coach education, first aid equipment, netballs and bibs).

Rhoose Community Tennis Club (£580 - nets, balls, markers, throw-down lines and ball speed machine).

Fairfield (Penarth) Primary School Table Tennis Club (£222 - coach education, nets, bats and balls).

Southerndown Surf Life Saving Club (£750 - three junior training boards).

Vale Panel member Cllr Anthony Ernest said: "The Community Chest scheme is a great resource for local sports organisations to develop and improve activities within their clubs. Any club requiring funds to set up new junior activities should contact the Sports Development Unit straight away."

Application forms and further information is available from Paul Nanji, Sports Development Officer, tel 01446 704614.