[C]umbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner Peter McCall joined youngsters and their coaches in a free sports session at Petteril Bank in Carlisle on Wednesday 9 May, to see first-hand how his Community Fund award to Greenwich Leisure is progressing.
Greenwich Leisure Ltd were awarded £10,000 from the Community Fund and £2,500 from local housing association Riverside to deliver free sporting activities for 11-18 year-olds in a number of locations in and around Carlisle.
Peter McCall said: “I was really keen to support this project, as I believe that by investing in our young people by providing healthy, positive experiences and activities is a great way to divert them away from getting involved in other more negative behaviours.
“It is also a great way to provide safe places for our young people to interact with others, and help increase their self-confidence and self-esteem.
“I am really encouraged by this scheme. Although the numbers were low last night due to the wet weather, the coaches did a great job focusing on soccer skills with those that did turn up. I really do hope that many more youngsters take advantage of these great, free sessions. This type of project is just the sort of thing my Community Fund is there for.”
Guy Thompson, Community Sport Manager for Better in Carlisle and Eden said: “We believe this is a fantastic opportunity to offer an accessible community project across key housing areas in Carlisle. Working with the Police and Crime Commissioner and other key partners we hope to engage young people in their own environment, providing opportunities to participate in sport and physical activity. Longer term we hope to work with these young people to encourage them to continue to access activity in their local Better leisure centre where we run a great range of programmes and activities for all ages and abilities.”
Jamie Hendry, Project Officer at Riverside said: “This is a fantastic project across a number of Riverside’s neighbourhoods in Carlisle. Partnership working is key to delivering projects that can be used by our customers and it is really pleasing to see the work the Greenwich Leisure team are doing with young people in the city.”
If you are interested in applying for funding of between £1,000 up to £10,000 from the Commissioner’s Community Fund, full information can be found on our website: www.cumbria-pcc.gov.uk/what-we-do/funding
