It’s game on for Cumbrian youngsters thanks to a £20,000 cash injection into grassroots sports from the Fibrus’ Play It Forward Fund.
Carlisle Hockey Club is among 20 organisations benefitting and will use their £1,000 grant to create a membership package that includes a junior hockey stick and an emoji ball to encourage young players to get started and keep going with the sport.
The fund was set up by the full fibre broadband provider to support the communities it works with and help more young people enjoy a range of sports.
Linda McMillan, chief people officer at Fibrus, said: “We had a fantastic response to the Fund this summer and we are excited to see how our funding drives the 53 clubs we’re supporting in Northern Ireland and Cumbria this year.
“Sports and clubs are at the heart of the communities where we operate, and we want to support these communities as widely as we can.”
One of the aims of the Play It Forward Fund is to encourage children to switch off their devices to get active and have fun.
It was launched last year when Fibrus set aside £50,000 and invited clubs from Northern Ireland and Cumbria to apply for grants of up to £1,000. Now in its second year, the fund has allocated over £100,000 to date to grassroots sports in both regions, with almost £40,000 allocated in Cumbria.
Leah Shearer, a volunteer at Carlisle Hockey Club, said: “This grant is a fantastic opportunity for us to grow our junior section and continue nurturing young talent.
“By offering equipment and resources that make joining the club more affordable and fun, we aim to inspire more children to take up hockey and stay engaged. It’s about creating opportunities for young players to develop their skills and enjoy the sport in a supportive environment.”
Its Fibrus grant will directly benefit children in the Carlisle area by offering better value-for-money membership packages and making it easier to participate, with equipment provided.
The clubs says this will lower the costs of playing hockey, encourage more practice, and foster a stronger sense of identity.
This year, 65 clubs applied and 20 were awarded grants, with priority given to those with smaller incomes that have not previously received Fibrus’ support.
