Sports clubs and facilities across Merseyside are to receive a boost worth £2.27 million, with Wirral receiving the lions’ share of £2m.
The latest allocation from the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme will see more high quality facilities being made available for people to play football, rugby and other grassroots sports.
Nationally, £29 million is being invested in new pitches, changing rooms, goalposts and floodlights during 2024/25.
As well as the £2.2m from the programme, a further £1.2m will be invested in the Borough from partners.
Facilities in Wirral that will benefit from £2m of investment:
- All weather grass pitch, changing rooms and pavilion at Woodchurch
- New all weather grass pitch and floodlights at Bidston Sports and Activity Centre (pictured)
- New goalposts at pitches used by Heswall FC, and Cheshire Vikings FC at The Delph in Wallasey
- Artificial grass pitch used by AC Hoylake at Acres Road Playing Fields
Announcing the cash, Sports Minister Stuart Andrew said:
Sport and physical activity are vital to our mental health and wellbeing, and each year thousands of people make a New Year's resolution to exercise more
We know that one of the major barriers in getting active is having access to high-quality sports facilities, which is why we are upgrading 1,100 more pitches, backed by investing £93 million.
This Government has delivered thousands of new projects across the UK with the aim of getting over 120,000 more people to get active, helping us to make big strides towards meeting our ambitious target of 3.5 million more people active by 2030.
Councillor Jenny Johnson, Chair of the Council’s Audit and Risk Management Committee, said:
Facilities across Wirral will benefit from the money announced by the Government on Saturday, with money going to areas that are most in need of new or renovated facilities.
A big thank you to those clubs and organisations that have put in the work and bid for funds. The benefits from this latest cash will be felt for years to come.
Investment in sport is a double win for the taxpayer - many of the groups that have been successful know how best to use the money and how to get good value for money for the taxpayer, while the outcomes will help to improve physical and mental health.
Councillor Helen Cameron, Chair of the Council’s Tourism, Communities, Culture and Leisure Committee, added:
Grassroots sport is not just a gateway for people who haven’t played or been active for years, it’s can also be the start of a lifetime of physical activity and friendship. I’m determined that, as we transform council-run sport and leisure, we ensure the clubs and organisations across Wirral also have the opportunity to get involved.
I’d encourage any clubs in Wirral that could benefit from the fund, to check out what’s available, via the Football Foundation (https://footballfoundation.org.uk/looking-for-funding) as more money is being made available for future years.
