As part of the Places People Play and Inspired Facilities Olympic and Paralympic legacy programme, this latest National Lottery funding will help local organisations, including the gymnastics club of London 2012 medallist Louis Smith, deliver significant improvements from new playing surfaces to floodlights and better changing rooms.

At a least a further £20 million ($32 million/€24 million) will be offered through future funding rounds and all improved facilities will carry the London 2012 Inspire mark to celebrate their link to the Games.

"We have had such a fantastic response from sports clubs to Inspired Facilities that we've reached our target of making 1,000 grants a year early," Sport England's chief executive, Jennie Price, said.

"Demand remains strong so we will offer a further £20 million ($32 million/€24 million) of funding over the next 15 months."

Today's announcement falls sixth months on from the start of the London 2012 Olympics and comes after Sport England last week launched a new £40 million ($65 million/€49 million) fund to help local sports projects and a month after it committed £493 million ($799 million/€607 million) to 46 sports over the next four years.


"Six months on from the start of the London 2012 Games, we have extremely strong foundations in place for the sports legacy," said Sports Minister Hugh Robertson, who today joined Sport England and members Team GB's Olympic bronze women's hockey squad at Barnes Sports Club in London, which secured a £50,000 ($79,000/€60,000) funding boost to pay for a multi-use games area that can be used for hockey and netball.

"The Places People Play programme goes from strength to strength and this £16.6 million ($26.3 million/€19.7 million) investment will improve facilities at local sports club across the country, encouraging participation and giving people more opportunities to get involved in sport."

Helen Richardson, a hockey player from the London 2012 bronze medal team, added: "Good local facilities are really important for grassroots sport so these lottery investments will have a big impact.

"It's fantastic to see that lots of hockey clubs are benefitting too."

Meanwhile, Smith's Huntingdon Gymnastics Club in Cambridgeshire will benefit from £49,150 ($77,930/€58,460) to improve the facilities at the club.


"I owe so much of my success to this club so I'm thrilled to hear they're receiving lottery funding," said the Olympic silver and bronze medallist.

"These improvements will help the club do even more for local gymnasts and I know they have big plans for the future."

Other awards include £41,025 ($65,045/€48,850) to improve a BMX racetrack in Nottingham and build a new pump track, £50,000 ($79,300/€59,500) to build a new sports pavilion for indoor sports and to support Seaview Football Club on the Isle of Wight and £50,000 ($79,300/€59,500) to modernise Stamford Community Swimming Pool in East Yorkshire.

Seven of the projects that are benefiting disadvantaged young people have been awarded a total of £95,571 ($151,500/€113,600) in additional funding from the Thomas Cook's Children's Charity, Sport England's partner for Inspired Facilities.

Maxine Harper from the charity said: "We are really pleased to be able to award £95,571 ($151,500/€113,600) to seven projects to help improve their facilities as they continue encouraging more children to get involved in sport, who might otherwise not be able to.

"We've been overwhelmed with the number of applications for our grants and the fund, which highlights the amazing work being done by volunteers in sports clubs up and down the country."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]