South Yorkshire sports projects awarded £42,000 to get more children active

The Sport for Change Initiative, funded by the Yorkshire Sport Foundation and South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Dr Alan Billings, awarded the cash to over 50 groups and projects.

The grants will provide 900 hours of activities for up to 2,000 young people, including a number of sessions over the summer break from school.

Groups in Sheffield received funding for 22 projects with £16,504 allocated to provide sports activities including football, netball, basketball, tennis, boxing and hockey.

Sheffield Wednesday will provide 15 football sessions in Middlewood Park, Wynn Gardens, Hillsborough Park and Firth Park.

Sheffield United will also deliver football coaching in areas including Pitsmoor.

The money will also pay for six boxing sessions at the Darnall Primary Care Centre.

Dr Alan Billings said: “It is very encouraging to see how the funding I provided to Yorkshire Sport Foundation has been match funded by them and shared out over 50 projects across

Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield.

“I hope the young people enjoy their time at the sporting projects throughout the summer.

"Although not everyone has the intention of causing mischief throughout the school break, we do understand that many will be bored and looking for things to do.

"This initiative will now provide young people with a number of activities to do within their communities

“I would also like to thank the volunteers who run and work on these projects. I understand that 88 volunteers will be providing their time to work with these young people in Sheffield.”

Nigel Harrison, of the Yorkshire Sport Foundation, said: “There’s a great variety in the projects that have been funded and I look forward to seeing how these create an impact in the communities throughout the county.

“I’d like to echo the sentiments of Dr Alan Billings in thanking the volunteers who will be helping make these sessions possible in the coming weeks and I’m sure they will find the

experience very rewarding.”

Visit www.yorkshiresport.org/sportforchange/ for details of all the grants awarded.