£7,500 grant will help get more children into sport (From Bournemouth Echo)

£7,500 grant will help get more children into sport

2:00pm Thursday 20th September 2012 in Christchurch By Katie Clark

CHEQUE: Residents and trustees celebrating the funding success

USERS of a Christchurch community centre are celebrating after winning vital funds designed to support the next generation of sporting kids.

Trustees from the Mudeford Wood Community Trust were presented with a grant cheque to the tune of £7,500 from Dorset Community Fund.

The money will be used to help get more local youngsters into sport by employing someone to co-ordinate dozens of volunteers who keep the centre running.

Tina Baker, CEO of Dorset Community Foundation presented the cheque to Dawn Brookes, chairperson of Mudeford Wood Community Trust.

Tina said: “Awarding this grant for £7,500 to Mudeford Wood Community Trust was an easy decision.

“These people are working tirelessly on a voluntary basis to improve and grow this fantastic community facility and genuinely want to create better facilities for young people in the area.

“I wish them all the very best.”

The Trust took over the day-to-day running of the centre earlier this year after a battle with the council to save it from closing.

There are sports pitches and tennis courts on the site – facilities the trustees are determined to hang on to and utilise.

Dawn Brookes said: “We are delighted to have been successful in our application for funding from Dorset Community Foundation, as every penny raised – whether through fund raising or from grant funding – goes towards keeping this fantastic community facility running day to day.”

For more information go to mudefordwoodcommunitycentre.co.uk