Pembrokeshire SPORTLOT Community Chest Grants Panel Invest Almost £100,000
Last year (2015/16) the Pembrokeshire SPORTLOT Community Chest grants panel was able to invest almost £100,000 into the sporting community.
Through the application process, 95 grants were allocated to a wide variety of Pembrokeshire organisations, from archery and athletics to sailing and squash, as well as the more traditional sports such as football, netball, rugby and hockey.
The impact of the funding was impressive to say the least. It enabled 61 new junior teams to be set up, and 16 new adult teams to be supported. It allowed 440 club volunteers to be put through various coach education and leadership courses as well as providing funding for first aid training, safeguarding children workshops and disability inclusion training. Through the fantastic work of Pembrokeshire’s voluntary sporting community this will result in increases in junior participation in local sport by more than 800, and a boost in adult participation by over 300. Applications can also be made for small items of equipment that are essential in providing regular training sessions.
One of the many clubs to benefit from funding over the past couple of years is Fishguard Sports AFC. Club Chairman, Matthew Lamb said “Community Chest has given us the opportunity to grow our junior section and to give the opportunity for those who normally wouldn’t take part in sport. It has also given us as the opportunity to develop the standard of coaching, which is key to any success at junior level. Over the past 6 years with the help of community chest we have grown from one junior boys’ team to over 150 boys and girls taking part on a weekly basis.”
This year (2016/17) Sport Wales has increased the Pembrokeshire panel budget to £108,000 – £8,000 more than last year.
The Pembrokeshire panel meets five times a year and is administered through the Sport Pembrokeshire office in County Hall, Haverfordwest.
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