
Wealden: Council invites applications for sports funds scheme
An East Sussex council is inviting applications for its Sports Infrastructure Fund programme.The scheme, launched by Wealden District Council (WDC), aims to enhance and provide outdoor sports pitches and facilities throughout the district.The council has committed £200,000 per year over a three-year period to organisations via a grant funding programme.The sports that could benefit from the funding include football, rugby, tennis, cricket, lawn bowls and netball, WDC added.
Councillor Kelvin Williams said: "Providing high-quality local sports facilities and outdoor spaces is essential for enabling our residents to lead healthier lifestyles through physical activity and community engagement."We encourage local partners and sports clubs to apply for funding to improve the accessibility and quality of sports facilities across the district."By working together, we can strengthen community bonds and build a healthier, more resilient Wealden."Match funding is available from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funds and will help enhance the quality, accessibility and protection of community-use sports facilities for generations to come, the council said.Applications are being invited from local sports clubs, town and parish councils, schools and community organisations to support the delivery of a range of projects.
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BBC News
09-02-2025
- BBC News
Wealden: Council invites applications for sports funds scheme
An East Sussex council is inviting applications for its Sports Infrastructure Fund scheme, launched by Wealden District Council (WDC), aims to enhance and provide outdoor sports pitches and facilities throughout the council has committed £200,000 per year over a three-year period to organisations via a grant funding sports that could benefit from the funding include football, rugby, tennis, cricket, lawn bowls and netball, WDC added. Councillor Kelvin Williams said: "Providing high-quality local sports facilities and outdoor spaces is essential for enabling our residents to lead healthier lifestyles through physical activity and community engagement."We encourage local partners and sports clubs to apply for funding to improve the accessibility and quality of sports facilities across the district."By working together, we can strengthen community bonds and build a healthier, more resilient Wealden."Match funding is available from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funds and will help enhance the quality, accessibility and protection of community-use sports facilities for generations to come, the council are being invited from local sports clubs, town and parish councils, schools and community organisations to support the delivery of a range of projects.


BBC News
17-12-2024
- BBC News
Luke Littler darts effect drives surge in junior league players
The number of youngsters playing darts has doubled after the success of the sport's teenage sensation Luke a 16-year-old Littler reached the PDC World Championship final, which saw online interest in the game soar, and him crowned BBC's Young Sports Personality of the Year 2024 on Tuesday media influencers have also played their part and the Junior Darts Cooperation (JDC) in Wales claim darts has become one of the fastest growing sports with children. With the 2025 World Championship now under way at Alexandra Palace in London the popularity of the game is predicted to grow further. One junior academy in Hirwaun in Rhondda Cynon Taf started in April and is already at capacity."I was born to play darts," said Jac, 12, who plays every Monday at the Cwm Taf Arrows Darts Academy. "I love darts because it's such a captivating sport and it gets the whole family involved." Iestyn, 15, was one of those inspired by Littler, now 17, and he also plays the game with his family when not at the academy."My mother is my inspiration because she pushes me on when I'm not doing so well," he said. "She says 'C'mon boy you can do this'.""Luke Littler has come on the scene and made darts popular and it's huge now like it was back in the day."Bailey, 14, said: "I just watched it as a kid with my nan and bamp, and dad bought a dartboard, so I started throwing and I just found it interesting and when I saw Cwm Taf arrows open, I asked to join. We've become like a family here, it's amazing." The WDC final was watched by 3.7m people - making it Sky's biggest audience for a non-football sporting event. As well as large viewing figures, ticket sales and social media interest have also media influencers have also helped drive the Bull Hitters are four online darts content creators based in Dorset, and include brothers Dan and Bailey McNamara, originally from Tir-y-Berth in Blaenau Gwent."Our goal is to keep the interest in darts during the quiet period," said Dan, 30, whose long hair and beard have earned him the nickname "Welsh Jesus"."Social media influencers keep the eye on the sport because when it's not on TV fans can now watch it on TikTok and YouTube."Luke Littler has brought all these youngsters to the game and hopefully we can play our part in keeping them interested."They have created an online darts game using everyday items."I used to sit at the Christmas dinner table as a kid and think could I throw this carrot like a dart," said Dan. "So we've made darts from carrots and household objects. I can't use chop sticks anymore because I've turned them into darts". Dan's brother Bailey had been in football academies since he was four, but he had a career-ending injury two years ago, and he is now focusing on darts."We just want to make darts as big as we can," he said. "What Luke Littler did was massive for darts and we are trying to sustain the interest when tournaments aren't on."The number of junior academies has doubled in Wales since Littler's emergence, and the appearance of the Bull Hitters in Hirwaun also impressed their young fans."I watch them online, it's unbelievable they're here," said Thomas, the JDC Wales manager, said: "The growth in six months has been incredible we need more areas to come on board and start academies because of the demand." The Bridgend family-run darts company, Nodor group, whose brands include Winmau and Red Dragon Darts, is also benefiting from the boom. It has sold a majority stake in the company to private equity firm Inflexion, and press reports estimate the deal to be worth about £ darts referee Huw Ware, who is adjudicating at The WDC championship in London, said there was "an explosion" in the sport's popularity."In Wales the depth of quality started around 2014 with Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton and now we have other young players coming through.""Darts was going well with Gerwyn and Jonny on the big stage but combine that with the Luke Littler effect and the popularity is reflected at academies like this packed with players.


BBC News
09-12-2024
- BBC News
New Stowmarket running track part of council's sports plan
A state-of-the-art running track could be built as part of a council's efforts to improve a town's health and fitness Suffolk District Council wants to build a six-lane track with a 100-metre-sprint section and a separate 200-metre oval mini athletics track at Chilton Fields in overall cost of the project - including floodlighting for a second rugby pitch - would be more than £861,000, but £497,000 of that could be contributed by proposal is part of the council's Stowmarket Health, Education and Leisure Facilities (SHELF) scheme, which aims to address health inequalities. A decision on whether to accept a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) bid from developers will be made by cabinet members next payments, legally required from developers of residential sites across the district, are reinvested to ensure facilities can develop at the same rate as overall £2.4m SHELF project includes a synthetic 3G pitch and has already seen a new outdoor fitness trail council has also worked with Stowmarket Cricket Club to put in new cricket nets at its Chilton Fields base, and is looking into building a shared sports pavilion. Andrew Mellen, the council leader who represents the Green Party, said: "Since the conception, this has been an ambitious project - but one I am pleased to see we are making great progress with."We have always been very clear about our commitment to sports and wellbeing facilities, and this is just one of the ways that we can reaffirm that commitment."This funding will allow us to push ahead with our plans and deliver some truly great facilities for the people of Stowmarket and surrounding areas." Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.