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The Sirius Minerals Foundation has given grants totalling £250,000 to improve the facilities of seven local sport clubs throughout the local area.

The capital grants of between £20,000 and £50,000 each are part of a drive by the charity to increase participation in amateur sports across Teesside, East Cleveland and the Whitby and Scarborough areas.

It follows a £52,000 programme of smaller grants awarded to 56 clubs in September to purchase kit, equipment or invest in training.

The charity was set up by Sirius Minerals to share some of the economic benefits of the company’s multi-billion pound polyhalite mining project, which is being built in Whitby and Teesside.

The successful applicants were:

• Teesside Athletic FC Ltd – creation of a new modular sports building complete with social lounge, toilets and café as well as two spectator stands to assist a football and sports exercise programme aiming to increase football participation for all ages and genders.
• Redcar Town Football Club – contribution to the cost of replacing the club house roof and providing fencing for currently unused, unfenced pitch areas to bring them into use.
• New Marske Harriers Athletic Club – contribution to the cost of refurbishing and upgrading the current hammer and discus cage into an all year-round use facility.
• Whitby Cricket Club – installation of perimeter fencing and a new female changing room to encourage the participation of women.
• Whitby Boxing Club – contribution towards the cost of new training equipment, a full-sized boxing ring, disabled access toilets and building extension costs to bring a currently unused space into use and create more inclusion.
• Scalby Cricket Club – contribution to the completion of the club’s pavilion extension and the complete renovation of the clubhouse to bring new cricket facilities to the area.
• Scarborough Disabled Swimming Group – purchase and installation of sensory lighting and equipment for the village pool to enable children, older people and people with a disability to take an active part in swim sessions.

David Archer, Chairman of The Foundation commented:

“It has always been important to us that the local area benefits as much as possible and amateur sports clubs are an important part of the social fabric of the area and can make such a positive difference to people, helping them lead healthier and more fulfilled lives.”

“The Board was pleased to see a range of high-quality applications for a range of sports. During the very tough selection process, we made the decision to increase the original budget of £200,000 to almost £250,000.”

This was the third grant-giving programme launched by the Sirius Minerals Foundation.

The charity has already awarded over half a million pounds to projects throughout Redcar and Cleveland, Whitby, Scarborough and the North York Moors National Park, for education and skills training, improving public spaces and facilities, health and wellbeing, environmental initiatives, and community building schemes.

The Foundation is currently utilising an initial £2 million in start-up funds that it was awarded in 2017 by Sirius Minerals Plc, following the commencement of construction of its Woodsmith Mine near Whitby, North Yorkshire.

Longer term, the Foundation will be funded by a revenue royalty when polyhalite production begins, which is expected to be over £10 million a year once the mine reaches full production.

A list of successful recipients, for both small and capital grants, is available here.