Karate club strikes it lucky with funding boost

 

Published 17 January 2012

 

Karate kids of all ages in the rural Vale of Glamorgan have struck it lucky after a local club was awarded a £1500 Community Chest grant.

 

Photo: Karate kids James Tudball, Noah Ridgeway, Finley Brace and Olly Jenkins.

The St Brides Major Karate Jutsu Kai Club’s efforts to attract new members have been boosted by the funding which will be invested into improving facilities and buying a range of new equipment.

 

Run locally by the Vale of Glamorgan Council and agreed by a panel of volunteers with support from Sport Wales, the Community Chest scheme helps people of all ages in Wales become more active, more often, and £1500 is the maximum grant available.

 

The St Brides Major Karate Jutsu Kai Club is open to everyone aged from five upwards. Sessions are held every Thursday evening from 6pm at St Brides Major Primary School and the club encourages members to progress and develop their karate skills at their own pace.

 

Club instructor Graham Barrie said: “I am extremely grateful to have received the Community Chest grant as it gives the club a unique opportunity to improve facilities, purchase new equipment and hopefully encourage older children and adults to keep fit and be able to look after themselves.”

 

Graham added: “The grant will also make the club a better place for existing members and it will allow us to develop a higher level of skills and encourage continuous progress through the karate grades.”

 

Cllr Anthony Ernest, the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure and Tourism said: “It’s great to see a sports club in the rural Vale of Glamorgan benefit from this opportunity to develop. I hope that it leads to further members attending, especially local adults who want to get fit by trying out a new sport.”

 

A total of £18,110 was awarded to 18 sports clubs and organisations in the Vale of Glamorgan in this latest round of Community Chest grants. In addition to the karate club, four other clubs received the maximum funding award of £1500.

 

Youth rugby has received a boost with A.C.W Youth Rugby Club planning on using their grant to set up additional youth rugby teams in Wick, while Old Penarthians RFC will be establishing teams at both under 11 and under 6 age levels. Caerau Vale Trampoline Club and Barry Male Artistic Gymnastics Club will both be investing their £1500 awards into improving training standards. Other sports to benefit include basketball, cricket, netball, tennis and sailing.

 

To find out more about the St Brides Major Karate Jutsu Kai Club, please call Graham Barrie on 01446 774148.

 

The deadline for the next round of Community Chest grants in the Vale of Glamorgan is 27^th January, and if you would like to discuss a potential application please do not hesitate to contact the Vale Council’s sports and play development team by calling 01446 704748.