Union Thai goes from strength to strength with new kick and strike mats

We’re pleased to announce we’re further supporting Union Thai with funding for handheld kick and strike mats so they can continue to provide the best training for their students and their students can safely continue to enhance their skills.

Back in September 2022, we supported Union Thai with funding towards an MMA cage and wall mats and they have since grown from 50 members to over 100 members, offering fitness classes to all ages and abilities within the local community.

Specialising in Muay Thai and Ju Jitsu, the Mixed Martial Arts Club have competed in National, European and International competitions, achieving British, European and World Championship status. Run by Marcos Lopes Guimaraes, the club aims to help their members with both their mental and physical health, encouraging confidence and teamwork.

We wish Union Thai continued success for the future and look forward to seeing their progress along the way.

For the latest news on Union Thai, follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

If you are part of an amazing sport or leisure team and would like to apply for up to £500 of funding, we are taking applications for awarding in May 2024.

Alfie on track for athletics competitions with new kit

We are delighted to announce we’re supporting Alfie Shallcross with new kit and equipment to enable him to attend the Lee Valley athletics competitions.

As a keen member of Great Yarmouth & District Athletics Club, 9-year old Alfie, from Bradwell, has found his passion and interest for all things ‘athletics’. Alfie has autism, with other complex disabilities and athletics has enabled him to be himself whilst gaining confidence, life skills and independence. Alfie looks to encourage other children with disabilities to take up athletics for both interest and as a means to keep fit and healthy. Alfie is determined and ambitious, with big dreams of being in the Paralympics. In representing the club at many competitions over the last year, Alfie is looking forward to competing in the rest of the indoor season and upcoming outdoor season, and mostly looking forward to competing at the National Junior Athletics Championships in Coventry this year.

Alfie’s mum, Rianne, applied to us for funding to enable Alfie to participate in athletics competitions alongside children his own age, both with and without disabilities. Alfie aims to increase his confidence in indoor competitions, which will help him boost his independence, communication and social skills. “This grant will mean Alfie is able to get all of the equipment he needs to aid his training when he is not training at the club. It will also allow for getting him fully kitted out for the competitions he is taking part in during 2024. Thank you, Great Yarmouth Sport and Leisure Trust for believing in Alfie and giving him the opportunity to achieve his dreams!”

Alfie has a special interest in the London Underground and Overground Tubes and is currently raising money for Children in Need by going to every station on the London Tube map. This is particularly challenging for Alfie as he has autism, sensory processing needs and other complex disabilities. Alfie is hoping his efforts will raise £2,024 this year. 

For Alfie’s latest news, visit his Facebook and Instagram pages and Great Yarmouth & District Athletics Club’s website.

We wish Alfie continued success for the future and look forward to seeing his progress along the way.

If you are part of an amazing sport or leisure team and would like to apply for up to £500 of funding, we are taking applications for awarding in May 2024.

New kit and equipment for basketball’s James Borg

We are pleased to announce we’re supporting James Borg with kit and training equipment to enable him to represent Great Britain at the Global Championships this year.

For over 25 years, James has competed and represented basketball in the Great Yarmouth Borough at local, national, and international level and will be representing Great Britain in the European Masters’ Championships in Italy in June. Last summer, James competed in the World Cup in Argentina and at a tournament in Croatia.

Back in 2014, James helped set up Great Yarmouth Basketball Club, which is now established at East Norfolk Sixth Form College in Gorleston. Last year, James made his international debut for FIMBA GB in Malaga, Spain.

It’s important to James to be an example of how sports can help to change a person’s life, as he finds basketball helps him with his mental health, as well as his coaching career. James aims to make a significant impact to sports in the local area, allowing for growth of basketball both locally and nationally, inspiring the younger generation of players he coaches and works with to continue to pursue the sport.

For James’ latest news, visit his Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter) and LinkedIn pages.

We wish James continued success for the future and look forward to seeing his progress along the way.

If you are part of an amazing sport or leisure team and would like to apply for up to £500 of funding, we are taking applications for awarding in February 2024.

Phoenix Karate squad supported with competition kit

We are delighted to announce we’re supporting the Phoenix Karate Parents Fundraising Committee with tracksuit tops for the squad to wear at national, European and international competitions.

Based in Great Yarmouth, Phoenix Karate regularly attend karate competitions, including the WUKF World Karate Championships in Dundee where the team achieved four gold medals and the WUKF European Karate Championships in France where the team brought home another four gold medals.

Phoenix Karate’s aim is to continue to provide exceptional training and opportunities for its students to compete at the highest levels of karate. Competition costs such as travel, accommodation, competition fees, training camps and equipment, can be quite expensive, and these costs are entirely funded by the competitors and their families and by the fundraising committee. The fundraising committee work hard in holding regular displays at local fetes and fundraising events such as bingo nights at the village hall in Hopton. In addition, Phoenix Karate build relationships with local schools to demonstrate the availability of sports such as karate, which can encourage physical activity, improving health, fitness and wellbeing.

International competitions can be life-changing events for the students, fostering personal growth and inspiring future generations. A great example of this from one of the team’s students, seven year old Kayah, who we’ve featured this year and who has been very successful in competitions she’s attended. Her reaction to receiving our support was inspiring “It will allow me to represent England and Kenshin Karate Organisation at WUKF World Karate Championships in Dundee. I can inspire the children to join not only karate but any other activities in our community. I am proof that small towns and clubs have the same opportunities to be part of some worldwide projects.”

For the latest news on Phoenix Karate Schools, visit Phoenix Karate Schools’ Facebook page and their website plus the Phoenix Karate fundraising Facebook page.

We wish Phoenix Karate Schools continued success for the future and look forward to seeing their progress along the way.

If you are part of an amazing sport or leisure team and would like to apply for up to £500 of funding, we are taking applications for awarding in February 2024.

Winterton Marine Cadets set sail with new buoyancy aids

We’re pleased to support Winterton Marine Cadets with buoyancy aids to enable their cadets and staff to sail on a regular basis.

Based at Caister Academy and Winterton Village Hall, the charity youth organisation provides activities and structure to young people aged 10 to 21 years of age. They currently have 21 members from the local area and, apart from the monthly subs, try to provide as much funding themselves without asking for contributions from parents or guardians.

 The charity would like to offer cadets the opportunity for ongoing development of their sailing abilities and skills by partaking in open sailing for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme. The charity owns an inflatable power boat, but new buoyancy aids are needed in order to use the boat on the Broads and in the sea.

Winterton Marine Cadets are very passionate about providing all young people, particularly those from low-income families who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to experience sailing activities. In addition, the charity provides sailing certificates which can help young people in later life, such as when making college applications. The sailing activities can really boost young people’s confidence in their own abilities, together with confidence in working as a team when sailing the larger boats. In addition, being out in the fresh air can also help mental and physical wellbeing.

We wish Winterton Marine Cadets continued success and look forward to seeing their progress along the way.

 For the latest news on Winterton Marine Cadets, follow on Facebook and on their website.

If you are part of an amazing sport or leisure team, or community organisation and would like to apply for up to £500 of funding, we are taking applications for awarding in February 2024.

Dance and Musical Theatre Company enhances skills with new equipment

We’re delighted to further support Isabella Weller with her ongoing success in Isabella’s Dance and Musical Theatre Company.

Isabella approached us for support in April 2021 when her company was a growing start-up and it’s been great to see her progress so much in two years. Based at Gorleston Pavilion Theatre, the dance and musical theatre company offers an extensive variety of classes and workshops; making regular appearances showcasing the company’s talent at local events, fetes, charity events, carnivals and shows, including Caister Carnival and Gorleston Clifftop Gala. The company also runs an annual production at Gorleston Pavilion Theatre to raise money for the theatre’s restoration fund and last year, successfully raised £8,200.

From small beginnings, having invested her own funds into her new venture, Isabella has gone from strength to strength and is now at the stage where new equipment will bring more opportunities for her students to keep fit and engaged. This includes a tumbling track, backbend training mat, stretch bands and splits stretch blocks, which will enable her students to explore and expand their learning, in safely practicing new skills to improve flexibility and strength.

Isabella’s current timetable includes ballet, tap and musical theatre classes for babies, juniors, and seniors. Isabella continues to encourage young people to be interested in the performing arts, including dancing, singing, fitness and performing. Their most recent production at Gorleston Pavilion was Drac and the Beanstalk which, according to reviews, was amazing!

In receiving the funding, Isabella said “The children will love the new equipment and be very excited to try new things during their classes.”

We wish Isabella continued success and look forward to seeing her progress along the way.

For the latest news on Isabella’s Dance and Musical Theatre Company, follow on Facebook and Instagram.

If you are part of an amazing sport or leisure team, or community organisation and would like to apply for up to £500 of funding, we are taking applications for awarding in February 2024.

New equipment and kit for Gorleston-based Cliffside Royalettes

We are pleased to announce we’re supporting Cliffside Royalettes Baton Twirling Club with new equipment and training kit so the club can continue to train, practice and enter competitions, including the Baton Twirling European Championships.

Based in Gorleston, the twirling club is a member of the British Baton Twirling Sports Association (BBTSA) and has been part of the community for 40 years with community spirit at its heart. Its 14 members regularly train at Cliff Park High School and meet up with other baton twirlers around Norfolk.

The new equipment will enable current and new members to continue to train and compete both nationally and internationally.

Part of the junior England squad, two of their athletes have just returned from France, having competed in the European Championship, achieving an excellent 4th place. One of the atheletes (Olivia) proudly carried the England flag at the closing ceremony. An amazing experience for them all.

Next on the agenda is the Nations Cup and World Championship in Liverpool, where all four of Cliffside athletes will be taking part, as individual athletes and in England team routines.

For the latest news on Cliffside Royalettes, visit their Facebook page and the BBTSA Instagram page and website.

We wish Cliffside Royalettes continued success for the future. We look forward to seeing their progress along the way.

If you are part of an amazing sport or leisure team and would like to apply for up to £500 of funding, we are taking applications for awarding in September 2023.

Unleash the Fun with Big Norfolk Holiday Fun Activities!

The Big Norfolk Holiday Fun activity programme offers a variety of holiday activities for children and young people aged 5-16 (or 4 if they are in school). These activities are available throughout school holidays and provide a fun way for kids to stay engaged and entertained.

Running alongside Norfolk County Council and funded by the Department of Education, the programme offers a wide range of activities, including gymnastics summer camps; Quidditch; Yoga Camp; Sports Camps; performing arts; circus skills; and much more.

Providing a fun and engaging way for children to learn new skills and make new friends, the activities are designed to be as inclusive and accessible as possible, including for children with special educational needs or disabilities.

So everyone has the opportunity to participate and benefit from these activities, free spaces on activities can be claimed for anyone who qualifies for means-tested free school meals.

To get started, visit Every Move’s Big Norfolk Holiday Fun Activities, enter your full postcode in the search filter and find the perfect activities for your child to experience a summer they’ll never forget!

Find out how to book your child onto a Big Norfolk Holiday Fun activity by watching this video. You can also follow Every Move on Facebook and Instagram.

Mighty Kayah takes the World Karate Championships by storm

We are delighted to provide an update of Kayah Michorczyk’s success at the 11th WUKF World Karate Championships.

The championships, held in Dundee in July, are for all ages, from 31 countries and 62 federations. It saw 1826 competitors, 279 coaches and 95 referees.

Seven year old Kayah, from Gorleston, competed in the championships after only one year of competing with her club, Phoenix Karate Schools. We are happy to have helped support Kayah with funding towards kit and equipment, specially developed uniform, chest guard, head guard, shinpads, white and red mitts, and mouthguards.

At the championships, Kayah had the opportunity of attending a workshop with multi-time WKF World Champion and legend, French karateka Christophe Pinna.

The Phoenix Karate Schools Club team achieved a haul of medals, with every member performing at an outstanding level.

Kayah, amongst 15 competitors, gave an outstanding performance in KATA Girls under 8 category, performing three different Katas in 3 rounds, then a fourth round to win silver. Competing again the following day with 30 competitors in KUMITE Girls under 8 category,  Kayah won three fights and reaching the semi-final, she lost by only 1 point in the last few seconds, to take home the Bronze.

Kayah’s wish is to inspire other children to join karate and other activities in the community and has clearly evidenced her belief that children from small towns and clubs can have the same opportunities to take part in worldwide projects.

Kayah’s proud mum said “Taking Kayah to the World’s Competition was a massive project for us, but it was possible with the help of the club, squad, family, anonymous people, and Great Yarmouth Sport & Leisure Trust. We thank Great Yarmouth Sport & Leisure Trust again for your support. Without your help, it wouldn’t be possible. You made Kayah's dreams come true.”

And on driving back from Dundee, “We are exhausted but happy at the same time. Kayah made us, the club and the country proud.”

So, what’s next on Kayah’s agenda? Kayah’s now training hard to attend the XIII WUKF European Karate Championships in November, in Antibes, France.

For the latest news on Kayah, visit Phoenix Karate Schools’ Facebook page and their website plus the Phoenix Karate fundraising Facebook page.

We wish Kayah amazing success for the European Karate Championships and for her future. We look forward to seeing her progress along the way.

If you are part of an amazing sport or leisure team and would like to apply for up to £500 of funding, we are taking applications for awarding in September 2023.