Grant provides funds for fitness equipment at “paradise” Willow Tree Works

Great Yarmouth Sport and Leisure Trust are pleased to announce a grant has been made to Willow Tree Works in Belton to provide specific fitness equipment for brand new fitness sessions for people with additional needs.

In 2009 a forgotten, neglected piece of land was purchased and the volunteers at Willow Tree Works made what was a neglected area into a garden for people with additional needs. The area was dense with gorse, and all sorts of rubbish, but slowly they cleared it to produce a blank canvas.

The BBC called it ‘a little piece of paradise’ and urged the volunteers to look after this special place. And that is exactly what they have been doing ever since. Over the years it has been built from the ground up and now has classrooms, toilets, chickens and an outside area that is utilised as much as possible, from planting to dog agility workshops!

Willow Tree Works is a unique project, driven solely by the needs of those with disabilities and their carers in the Norfolk and Suffolk area. The project aims to deliver individually targeted skills-based learning that will promote employment potential, along with personal achievements and well-being. The ethos of the garden is summed up in their motto, 'growing stronger together'.

The learners have access to a developing selection of activities which gives them a sense of purpose, increasing their skills base, improving their day to day lives and allowing them to integrate not only with their peers but also working towards a healthier lifestyle. Fitness plays a large part in their ethos and activities and Willow Tree Works is setting up a new fitness class which is open to learners and the wider community. The funds from GYSLT will provide specific fitness equipment for these brand new fitness sessions.

With a high percentage of learners being considered overweight this is a fantastic opportunity for them to work on their fitness, skills and confidence especially with the equipment being provided: Reebok steps, weights and yoga mats.

There are a considerable number of children and adults in the Great Yarmouth area who have learning difficulties. Many have no access to a useful base to spend their days. The activities at Willow Tree Works deliver skills-based learning, and fitness is needed to tackle the projects. Getting fitter with the new equipment which the Trust are helping to fund will help the learners develop their skills and confidence in other projects tackled at the Garden.

If you are part of an amazing project helping your community and would like to apply for up to £500 of funding, then we are taking applications for awarding in November 2019.

Check out the latest fundraising project! The Gofundme page is here

Winterton playing field on it's way to new changing rooms

The changing rooms at Winterton Playing Field are not fit for purpose and don’t meet current sports club standards. We’ve supported the Parish Council by providing a £500 grant to help kick start the Playing Field Development Project. The money is for architectural preliminary drawings and detailed plans for a new building which will be used as changing facilities, refreshments and storage.

The plans will help:

• the village see what’s intended

• assist in further fundraising activity

• and will help get planning permission. 

These new facilities will help the playing field get used a lot more. The Cricket Club there is already catering for adults and young people, with womens, girls, mens and boys teams. A Croquet Club is developing and regular events such as Dune Runners, walking groups and local schools use the field. We’re really happy to support Winterton - if you can help their fundraising efforts too, they would appreciate that!

Revolutionary Roots putting their funds to use

We're so happy to see Revolutionary Roots putting their funds to use. They're testing their circus equipment 🎪which is some of kit bought with the grant. 

The team hope it will have a positive effect on the wider community with less boredom and anti social behaviour, and instead empowerment towards personal development.

Have fun! 

Do you know a community or sports project in need of funds? Please share this page with them, or tag them in below, thank you!

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New Equipment for East Norfolk Gymnastics Club

East Norfolk Gymnastics Group

NEW FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT!

We're thrilled to have been able to push East Norfolk Gymnastics Club up to the funding amount they needed to buy new equipment.

They're a community-based gymnastics club, teaching both boys and girls from the age of 5 up to 18 years old. They have 75 members and a waiting list of over 200 (that's how amazing they are!).

The funding we've contributed to will help buy a new set of asymmetrical bars. The current bars are over 20 years old and unable to be adjusted which they need to be able to do.

The new equipment will help the gymnasts to perform greater skills and linking moves between the bars with greater confidence, which will help them when they compete in competitions.  It will help with confidence as currently the gymnasts are afraid to move from the low bar to the high bar in competitions as the width of competition bars is far greater than the current bars allow. 

Don Cathy said, “As a small club, trying to raise over £2500 is a huge undertaking and without the help from the Trust this would not have been possible. The new asymmetrical bars will enable our members to learn new skills, which will enable them to enter more  competitions, many thanks from all at the club.”

If your club or group is in the borough of Great Yarmouth, please enquire about funding for kit, equipment or other costs, we may be able to help.

Revolutionary Roots awarded £500 funds for sports equipment

Revolutionary Roots is a Youth and Community Group working on various projects across the borough of Great Yarmouth. The group applied to the Trust for funds towards sports equipment which will aid holistically against substance abuse, anti social behaviour and criminal activity.

Many young people use the services of a Detached and Outreach Youth work project in central GY on the Newtown and Middleton estates.

Revolutionary Roots have great ideas to offer more physical activities, for example circus skills and sports at the youth cafe. Heidi Garwood says “This grant will give our service users and young people in the community the opportunity to be involved with sport and physical activity as a constructive activity. This will also have a positive effect on the wider community with less boredom and anti social behaviour, and instead empowerment towards personal development.”

Info: Revolutionary Roots is CIC working a cooperative, made up of 7 committee members and numerous volunteers. Revolutionary Roots is working in the local community delivering a range of work including detached, outreach and peripatetic work, as well as venue based support. A member of of Revolutionary Roots helps the Bread Kitchen run their youth club in Cobholm on Thursday 6.30pm to 8 pm ages 7-13. Revolutionary Roots run the youth club on Friday night with a number of volunteers and one lead youth worker for ages 13-19 at 7pm to 9pm .