SPENCER Melksham Bowls Club in Melksham has been awarded £3,025.00 of National Lottery funding from Sport England’s Community Emergency Fund towards the maintenance of its green during the on-going COVID-19 pandemic.
The outbreak of the virus and the consequent shutdown of businesses as of March 23 has left the sport and physical activity sector facing a period of uncertainty.
In response, on March 31 Sport England announced a £195m package to help the sport and physical activity sector through COVID-19. Within the package is a £20m Community Emergency Fund, of National Lottery money to deliver immediate funding to those who have a role in supporting the nation to be active but are experiencing short-term financial hardship or the ceasing of operations due to the impact of coronavirus.
The grant will allow Spencer Melksham Bowls Club to ensure that the green is ready for its members to commence playing as soon as it is viable and to ensure that the green is mowed and kept free of weeds etc. whilst no income is received from its members playing
“Peter Sanders, the Club’s Secretary thanks Sport England for the help that the fund will give to the club during the pandemic when funds from matches normally being played have ceased yet the green needs full maintenance and cutting to ensure there is no delay in re-opening when permitted.”
Tim Hollingsworth, Sport England’s Chief Executive, said:
“As the body responsible for the growth of sport and physical activity participation, we want the vital grassroots organisations that make sport and physical activity happen in this country to not just to come through this crisis but to be in a position to thrive again in the future. The £20m Community Emergency fund, made possible by National Lottery players is part of a multimillion-pound package of support we are providing to ease the pressure on a huge number of the organisations who are central to the nation’s health and wellbeing.”
“We are proud to be able to provide vital funding to SPENCER MELKSHAM BOWLS CLUB) to help it through these extremely challenging times.”