The race is on for sport grant cash boost (From Penarth Times)

The race is on for sport grant cash boost

SPORTS and leisure organisations across the Vale of Glamorgan are being invited to apply for a cash boost to help develop and improve their activities and facilities.

With individual grants available up to a maximum of 750, the Lottery's Community Chest scheme has been an outstanding success in the Vale and the scope for applications has now been widened.

Vale sport, art and play development manager Karen Davies said: "This is an excellent opportunity to receive funding.

"We have been able to make grants totalling more than 13,000 so far this year and there is still more than 40,000 to be applied for."

Around 120 types of sports clubs are eligible from tug-of-war to martial arts and orienteering.

Also eligible are businesses wishing to hold lunchtime exercise classes like salsa or belly dancing or those encouraging staff to cycle to work, with possible financial assistance for the purchase of bike stands and lockers.

After work or school activity clubs are also invited to apply, with guidelines stating that they have to be run by a local community club linked to a school.

Applications are also welcomed from education providers, companies, voluntary organisations, health programmes and special sectors such as development programmes and youth schemes.

Karen added: "The aim in granting this funding is to financially help clubs and organisations start up and, for existing schemes, they may wish to purchase equipment, finance marketing, pay for initial hall hire or even pay for a coach over a 16-week period."

A sum of 750 is the maximum amount which can be awarded to a single project and the panel will not fund the same scheme twice.