Council announces more grants for grassroots sports
Council announces more grants for grassroots sports
Hyndburn Borough Council has awarded three new small grants to help support grassroots sports across Hyndburn via its Cabinet Action Fund.
Lancashire Bombers American Football Club were awarded £1500 towards the cost of providing first aid training to coaches and volunteers.
Image: Cllr Kimberley Whitehead, presenting cheque to Lancashire Bombers Russell Bury (Chairman and Coach): Alex and Bobby (Lancashire Bombers and Great Britain squad players)
The Lancashire Bombers is a thriving American flag football club based in Oswaldtwistle, offering year‑round weekly training sessions for youth and adult players aged seven and above. The club provides an inclusive, non‑contact version of American football, welcoming players of all abilities, genders and experience levels. With a strong committee, dedicated coaching team and links to partner clubs such as Great Harwood Rovers Football Club, where a strong partnership is helping bring diversity in sports to Hyndburn.
Funding will be used to deliver essential first aid and coaching qualifications for the club’s volunteers, ensuring the Bombers can continue supporting their rapidly growing membership safely and effectively. It will also fund new kits for for players from low-income families. With at least six coaches required each year and mandatory training renewals every two years, the club faces rising costs, including £150 per person for coaching courses and £237.60 per person for first aid certification. These qualifications are vital to maintaining safe, high‑quality training for the club’s 55 players, many of whom come from low‑income families or rely on the club for social support and development opportunities.
Russell Bury, Chairman of Lancashire Bombers American Football Club said:
“This funding will make a huge difference to our club and our players. By helping us train and qualify more coaches and first aiders, it ensures we can keep providing a safe, inclusive and inspiring environment for every young person who steps onto the field. Our volunteers give so much to the Bombers, and this support helps us continue offering opportunities that genuinely change lives.
Our club is going from strength to strength, demonstrated by some incredible on field successes. We’re Under 17s British champions, have just competed in the World Championships and are ranked 11th in the world. We’ve got eight Great Britain players and four on the Olympic pathway, two of who live right here in Oswaldtwistle.
Being a non-traditional sport often means it can be much more difficult to get funding, and as our success grows, so do our costs. We are always on the lookout for new funding opportunities and local sponsorship. Any businesses interested in sponsoring a local, successful sports club who play on the national and international stage can get in touch with me directly by emailing lancashirebombersfootball@gmail.com”
Primetime Netball League were awarded £6,048 to subsidise the cost running an indoor winter league which attracts hundreds of women and girls at venues across the borough.
Image: Cllr Kimberley Whitehead presenting cheque to Primetime Netball League, Kay Bramwell and players from Powells and Exertis netball teams
Helen Tomlinson, Committee Member of Primetime Netball League said:
“The funding has already started impacting the lives of women and girls in Hyndburn. We apportioned part of it towards a hardship fund, this has enabled those who wouldn’t have been able to carry on participating in the sport they love, due to financial constraints, to do so.”
Jill Keightly, Committee Member of Primetime Netball League said:
“The impact netball has on not just women’s physical and mental health is unmeasurable. Part of the money will be used to hold a free to enter tournament, umpire mentoring programmes and further hardship funds that will help on a case by case basis. Teams who have played through the winter will have free entry into the summer league in addition to subsidising the ever-growing costs of running the league. This money has helped and will continue to help over 200 women and girls on a weekly basis.”
Finally, Huncoat United Junior Football Club were awarded £950 to supply new kit for their U15s girls team
Councillor Kimberley Whitehead said:
“These latest grants mean seventeen grassroots sports clubs and organisations have now received Cabinet Action Fund grants this year. I’ve been championing grassroots sports for a long time, which is why I am so proud that this Council is supporting local clubs representing different sports across the borough.
The Primetime netball league provides hundreds of women and girls the opportunity to play sport and this grant will support them to continue. I’m also confident in saying that our grant to the Lancashire Bombers is likely the first time in the history of this Council that we’ve provided direct support to an American Football club.
Hyndburn has a strong network sports clubs and it’s encouraging to see such a variety of sports applying for and receiving grants.”
The Cabinet Action Fund, announced earlier this year, is a budget dedicated to addressing community needs and supporting local service providers. This fund is part of the Council’s ongoing commitment to help local organisations who provide support for Hyndburn residents.
Grassroots sports clubs and other local service providers can apply at https://www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk/cabinet-action-fund-application-form/