Big Lottery Fund announces sports funding to 4 schools in HF


Four schools in Hammersmith & Fulham are celebrating following sports funding news from the Big Lottery Fund, which is announcing more than £181,000 for new sports facilities in the borough's schools.

The money comes from the Fund's £750 million New Opportunities for PE and Sport programme which supports the creation of new and the modernisation of
existing indoor and outdoor sports facilities for schools.

An award of £61,343 for Normand Croft Community School, in north Fulham, will be used to improve facilities for physical activities including two new traversing walls, trim-trail equipment, including balance beams, ropes and climbing equipment as well as a ball wall and basketball nets for shooting skills and target practice. The improved facilities will provide the
school's 200 pupils, including 20 attending the special unit and 200 other regular users from the local community, with the opportunity to participate in climbing and outdoor adventure activities.

At Flora Gardens Primary School, in Hammersmith, an award of £28,586 will be used for the installation of a trim trail. The new equipment will be used for outdoor adventure activities, such as climbing, balancing and swinging, both within and outside the national curriculum and will benefit 240 pupils from the school. An estimated 3,120 visits each year from community users
will also be possible.

Two further schools in the borough will use funding to provide multi-use games areas. A grant of £48,204 for St John's Walham Green Primary School, in Fulham, will create a new facility, which will be used for PE, football, netball, basketball and cricket. The school's 229 pupils are set to benefit along with 200 pupils from other local schools. Around 1,200 visits each year from users from the wider community will also be possible. And in the north of the borough, an award of £43,350 will be used to create a new facility integrated into the playground at Kenmont Primary School, in College Park. It will be used for soccer, basketball, netball and cricket and by the school's 221 pupils and 150 users from other local schools.

Pauline Morozgalska, head at St John's Walham Green Primary School in Fulham and chair of Hammersmith & Fulham Primary Schools Sports Association, said: "This will give our children a much better quality surface on which to play sports in the school grounds in all weathers. We plan to use it for cricket, football, netball, basketball and hockey. St John's is very committed to
sport - we enter as many inter-schools events as possible and reached the boys' semi-final of this year's Mayor's Cup football tournament."

Cllr David Williams, Hammersmith & Fulham Council's deputy for education, said: "The Big Lottery Fund money is another boost to the tremendous progress we have made in increasing participation by children and young people in sport. These exciting new facilities are in addition to the all-weather pitches we have recently installed in parks and schools as well as the mobile climbing wall, which has been a hugely popular attraction at numerous community events. Our expanded sports development team is also working hard with schools to broaden the range of sporting activities and tournaments on offer to local children and young people. We want to
encourage them to lead healthier lifestyles and use their imagination in play and exercise."

Debbie Pippard, the Big Lottery Fund's Head of the London Region said: "It's great to be announcing these further grants from the PE and Sport programme. Projects across the capital are set to benefit from an array of new, state-of-the art facilities that will increase opportunities for people to get involved in sport they enjoy, get fit and have fun.

"This programme is already bringing positive changes to people of all ages across London and this latest boost will bring greater access to physical activity to thousands more."

May 15, 2005