Thanet Athletics Club is celebrating after receiving grants of £6,460
Sport England pledged £4,039 from its Small Grants Programme, which has been set up to support local community sport projects that seek to increase participation, sustain participation or develop opportunities for people to excel at their chosen sport.
Kent County Council agreed £2,421 after five County Councillors – Bob Bayford, Charles Hibberd, Michael Jarvis, John Kirby and Chris Wells – supported the club from their Member Community Grants, which again offer support to local community projects.
Thanet Athletics Club, which launched on 20th April, will use the money towards the costs of coach training and development, clothing and equipment, transport to competitions, facility hire and publicity and promotion.
Phil Pittock, Chairman of Thanet Athletics Club, said “We are extremely grateful to Sport England and Kent County Council, and also to Thanet District Council and England Athletics who supported our applications. The grants are a massive help and they give us the confidence to move forward and to develop athletics in Thanet knowing that we can fund the things that we want to do”.
Hannah Bladen, Sport England’s Regional Lead for Kent, said “The opportunity to try a new sport for the first time is often all a person needs to catch the sporting bug. The new Thanet Athletics Club is a great way for people of all ages to try athletics and have a quality sporting experience that will encourage them to stay involved.”
Mike Hill, Kent County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services, added, “I am delighted that Members have supported Thanet Athletics Club, which is vital in providing local sports opportunities”.
Thanet Athletics Club offers training and competition in all events for all ages from eight upwards. The club trains at The Marlowe Academy from 6.00 to 7.30pm every Tuesday and is affiliated to England Athletics and the South of England and Kent County Athletics Associations. 90 to 100 people have attended each training session so far and the club will provide opportunities for outdoor track and field competition during the summer and sportshall athletics for junior age groups over the winter.
For further information about this project please visit www.thanetac.co.uk or call Phil Pittock on 07941 196740.
