£250k will keep clubs fighting fit

TWO sports clubs in the city are sharing £100,000 from Sport England to improve facilities.

Almost £250,000 is being given out to organisations across East Yorkshire, as part of £16.6m of National Lottery cash given to 310 projects across the country.

The money will be spent on everything from new playing surfaces to floodlights and better changing rooms, as part of a Sport England legacy programme.

Kingston Amateur Boxing Club will use the money to replace a leaking roof, while Aspire Gymnastics Club will kit out an industrial unit as a specialist gymnastics centre.

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Sam Thompson, club secretary at Kingston Amateur Boxing Club in Hessle High Road, west Hull, said: "We heard about the funding through a community forum and with more than 100 members at the club, we thought we'd be in with a good chance.

"Our roof is in a poor state. Lead has been stolen from it and there are leaks springing up all over.

"We've tried to patch it up but the leaks kept coming back so we got a few quotes for a new roof.

"It was a lot of money and there's no way we could have paid for it without funding.

"Everyone was over the moon when we were told we'd secured £50,000 – I've not heard of another boxing club in Hull getting that much."

The club is based at the old whaling museum near Pickering Park and the committee has been there for six years.

Sam said: "The club is growing all the time and we will also be spending the money on a suspended ceiling to keep people warm and cut our utility costs."

Aspire Gymnastics Club is currently based at Woodford Leisure Centre in Holderness Road, east Hull, and the £50,000 will transform an industrial unit in St John's Business Park, also in east Hull.

The improvements include specialised heating and lighting, security and changing facilities.

Aspire Gymnastics Club has helped thousands of young people get into sport during the past 25 years ago.

Club chairman Jean Laws said: "We are absolutely delighted to have secured this investment, which means we can upgrade the quality of our premises to match the quality of our gymnastics coaches.

"It is the vision of Aspire Gymnastics Club to provide an outstanding facility for the 2012 Olympics' legacy."

Sport England had a strong demand for funding and will release another £20m over the next 15 months to projects in the UK.

Hull East MP Karl Turner said: "Funding from Sport England is perfectly placed to increase Hull's strong sporting tradition.

"I am eager to see a dedicated fit-for-purpose gymnastics facility that will undoubtedly benefit our young people as well as the whole community."

The Wolds Gymnastics Club and Stamford Bridge Community Pool will also share £100,000, while the KGV Cottingham Community Trust has received £49,762.