Personal Best Foundation is delighted to have awarded the first round of Small Grants. The funding will see five projects across England receive up to £2,000, supporting more children and young people to benefit from the transformational impact of athletics.
The response to the funding far exceeded our expectations with lots of brilliant projects submitted. It made the review process very challenging and we'd like to thank all of the clubs and organisations who took the time to apply.
This first round of funding will ensure that children and young people from low income families, ethnically diverse community groups and those with disabilities are able to access the sport, enjoy the benefits of being active and to have the opportunity of achieving their personal best.
The funding will see activities taken into urban and rural communities, making sport more accessible when cost and transport stand in the way. Young people with disabilities, dependent on specialist equipment to take part in sport, will have the chance to attend competitions. Training for volunteer coaches means athletics sessions in more deprived areas and additional programmes giving more children and young people the chance to join in. Coached athletics sessions will become a reality for communities facing cultural barriers to physical activities.
Read more about each of our five recipients below!
UFFO Athletic and Leisure Group Ltd
UFFO Athletic and Leisure Group Ltd will be providing athletics activities for a range of children and young people from one of the most deprived areas in London. The funding will provide opportunities for up to 30 predominately Muslim children considered to be inactive to enjoy the benefits of athletics. Qualified athletics coaches will help the children and young adults to develop fundamental movement skills, to improve their fitness, make social connections and improve their confidence and self-esteem in team competition.
Learn more about UFFO Athletic and Leisure Group LtdWarriors Pentathlon and Athletics Club
Warriors Pentathlon and Athletics Club will be supporting children and young people from low income families in areas of high social deprivation. The Warriors objective is to take athletics and sport into their local communities, delivering free or heavily subsidised sessions in a variety of venues from parks, churches and even a local sea cadet hall, and in some of the most deprived postcodes to reach young people that otherwise may not be able to access the sport. The funding awarded will help to increase capacity and extend the reach of the sessions as well as supporting a free inclusive cross country series for local primary schools.
Learn more about Warriors Pentathlon and Athletics ClubWest Norfolk Athletics Club
West Norfolk Athletics Club is a small rural club that is currently supporting many young people from low income families in areas of high social deprivation as well as children in the care sector and young people with disabilities. The allocated funding will help to increase the capacity of the club to support even more young people. High quality athletics equipment will be purchased to support the youth section and coaching courses will be funded to increase capacity and facilitate the ability of the club to initiate outreach activities, such as visiting rural schools and communities to engage with children who may otherwise miss on sport and physical activity.
Learn more about West Norfolk ACBarnsley Premier Leisure
Barnsley Premier Leisure is the charity arm of the leisure industry in Barnsley. They are currently delivering funetics programmes out of two of their facilities, helping children access athletics from a young age. But now, with the help from the Personal Best Foundation they will be able to take funetics out into the community, supporting children in areas of highest deprivation who don't currently have access to athletics activity. The funding will be used to establish community funetics satellite prograames with the creation of four new sessions across the Borough.
Learn more about Barnsley Premier LeisureBradford, Keighley and Skipton Disability Athletics
Bradford, Keighley and Skipton Disability Athletics supports children and young people with a range of disabilities including physical, mental, social and emotional. They operate across a large geographical area due to a lack of disability specific athletics. Many families are in high poverty within the area covered. Recent fundraising has enabled the purchase of a minibus to offer pick up and drop off service for families who are unable to access transport. The club has also recently acquired some additional frames which will support a further 11 young athletes aged between 10 and 23 years to particpate in the sport. The funding received from Personal Best Foundation will enable the club to purchase a racking system so that the new equipment can be transported to competitions, supporting the young people to access additional experiences in a competitive environment.
Learn more about Bradford, Keighley and Skipton Disability Athletics