Riding high on the success and excitement of the London 2012 Games, eleven projects in Essex will be updating their sporting facilities for present and future generations, having benefited from £500k in Sport England’s second round of Inspired Facilities funding. Thirteen projects had previously accessed around £600k in round one, already bringing the total benefit to Essex communities at over £1 million.

Inspired Facilities funding is available to local community and volunteer groups to enable them to improve and refurbish sports clubs or transform non-sporting venues into modern grassroots sport facilities. This is part of a £135 million Places People Play legacy programme funded by The National Lottery with the aim of bringing the magic of London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games into communities across the country. Every sports facility that receives funding will carry the London 2012 Inspire mark – celebrating the link to the Games. Clubs need to move fast as the deadline for the next round of applications is 17th September.

Essex County Councillor Stephen Castle, Cabinet Member for Education, Lifelong Learning & the 2012 Games commented: “This is a great result for Essex. Being chosen as a Host County for the London 2012 Games has inspired everyone to get more active and this funding will benefit the whole community by making sports more accessible to all”.

David East Chair of Active Essex added: “We at Active Essex believe that you should be able to fulfil your sporting and physical ambitions no matter who you are.  So, these grants will enable future generations to fulfil their potential, whether that’s winning Gold in the Olympics or Paralympics, kicking a ball around with friends or even just leading a more active life”.

The funding will make a huge difference to communities in Great Wakering, Basildon, Frinton, Matching Green, Colne Engaine, Chelmsford, West Mersea Southend and Thurrock with projects ranging from £20k to build a new pavilion to £72K to build a whole new sports hall.

If you would like to find out about funding to improve sports facilities in your area check out www.activeessex.org/funding/ for further information. In particular revenue funding is available via Sportivate, aimed at increasing participation amongst 14-25 year olds.