Council cash to help teens learn sports (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)
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Cotswold District Council cash to help teens learn sports
10:00am Tuesday 5th March 2013 in News By Laura Shack
Cirencester town and district councillor Joe Harris hopes to give under privileged young people access to sports through the Game On initiative
UNDERPRIVILEGED teenagers in the Cotswolds are being given a sporting chance thanks to a new council cash pot.
While many youngsters might long to dominate on a tennis court like Andy Murray, hit the back of the net like Steven Gerrard or ride to victory like Laura Bechtolsheimer, not every family can afford the cost of taking part in sport.
That is why Cotswold district councillors on Cirencester Town Council have decided to pool funding given to them from CDC to help 13 to 19-year-olds access sports.
Last year, a youth bus was refurbished with the £8,000 funding total from 10 district councillors on the town council.
This year £9,000 will go into a "Game On" initiative, which will provide around 60 teenagers from underprivileged backgrounds with cash to support any sports they may want to try.
"It can be for football, rugby, hockey, netball, diving, swimming, gym membership – anything they want to do," Cllr Joe Harris said. "It’s not just about sports, it’s also about improving their social life, giving them something to look forward to and helping them to feel part of the community."
To gain funding, the teenagers or their parents or guardians should speak to youth workers, schools, GPs and the town council.
Talks will soon be held in schools across the Cirencester area to explain Game On, and the initiative will be launched over the next few weeks.
To find out more email clarebartlett@bromford.co.uk or call the town council on 01285 655646.
