- The Conservative Government has set out a clear plan to get 3.5 million more people across the country active by 2030, including one million young people.
- It’s important that people of all ages have access to high-quality sports facilities to stay active and healthy, both mentally and physically, and sports facilities play an important role in the local community.
- That is why the Conservative Government has announced that more than 1,100 grassroots sports projects are to benefit from £93 million of funding, including new pitches, changing rooms, and floodlights, with Gedling set to benefit from £1,917 in funding this year.
Tom Randall MP has welcomed the news that football clubs across Gedling have now benefitted from nearly £94,000 of funding after the announcement that a further £1,917 in new funding is coming to grassroots football as a result of the Conservative Government’s long-term investment in grassroots sports.
Exercising more is the most common New Year’s resolution. That is why the Conservative Government is helping hundreds of thousands of people across the country stick to their resolution by delivering high-quality grassroots sports facilities.
From Belfast to Bracknell, over 1,100 projects are receiving funding towards facilities such as changing rooms, pavilions, state of the art 3G football turf, goalposts, and floodlights, improving access to sport and physical activity for local communities.
Importantly, the Conservative Government’s multi-sport grassroots fund is investing in areas that are most in need, with at least 50 per cent spent in the most deprived and inactive local authorities.
As part of this investment, local communities across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will benefit from an unprecedented £12 million in 2023-24, delivering in partnership with the Scottish FA, the Irish FA, Cymru Football Foundation and Football Association of Wales. A further £9 million is also being committed across these regions for projects to be delivered through 2024-25.
This builds on historic investment in grassroots sport. Since 2021, the Conservative Government has helped deliver new facilities or improvements at almost 2,400 sites across the UK, getting more than 120,000 people active.
The Conservative Government is sticking to its plan to improve the mental and physical health of the nation and provide high-quality sports facilities across the country, ensuring a brighter future for this generation and generations to come.
Commenting, Gedling’s MP Tom Randall said: “There is a clear link between feeling your best, both mentally and physically, and exercising regularly. That is why I welcome the news that the Conservative Government are helping people across Gedling get active by investing into our grassroots sports facilities.
“As part of the Conservative Government’s multi-sports grassroots facilities programme, £91,279 was allocated to Gedling last year for new changing rooms and pitch upgrades on Lambley Lane in Gedling village. This year, £1,312 has been allocated towards new goalposts at Arnold’s George Street Recreation Ground for Ernehale Colts FC and £605 towards additional storage for Willow Wanderers FC at Carlton le Willows Academy.
“The Conservative Government is sticking to its plan to make sure everyone can access the facilities they need to live an active and healthy lifestyle and I am pleased Gedling is receiving funding to help make that happen locally, with hopefully more to come next year.”
Sports Minister Stuart Andrew said: “Sport and physical activity are vital to our mental health and wellbeing, and each year thousands of people make a New Year's resolution to exercise more.
“We know that one of the major barriers in getting active is having access to high-quality sports facilities, which is why we are upgrading 1,100 more pitches, backed by investing £93 million.
“This Government has delivered thousands of new projects across the UK with the aim of getting over 120,000 more people to get active, helping us to make big strides towards meeting our ambitious target of 3.5 million more people active by 2030.”
