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.

Our borough has two new NORSUF Running Group leaders

We are over the moon that the two leaders we funded for NORSUF Running Group have completed their training, and are just awaiting their licence from England Athletics before they set up groups in Caister, Bradwell and Gorleston!

Sam and Russell’s group sessions are for new members who want to walk, jog or run in a supportive group. 

Sam started with NORSUF Running Group on Couch to 5k in January 2018 and she is now a competent leader: "The course was very informative and covered groups of all abilities. When I receive my licence I plan to run weekly free running group for beginners in my area.  I think it’s important beginners are encouraged and supported.  There are a large amount of sessions to cater for runners but very few for beginners".

Russell joined in July 2018 has achieved a large amount in a very short time: "I found the course enjoyable, all of the content and more we had covered in the extra 1-2-1 mentoring sessions.  Therefore I was able to attend with a confident open mind.  Now qualified I feel confident to lead my own local sessions and support you in the coaching group. I will get a great sense of achievement from encouraging beginners to run and improve their physical and mental health. My intended group sessions will be in the village of Caister-on-sea where I have already made preparations". 

You can find out how to join by visiting the Run Together website.

Trevor Rawson, an inspirational local health coach heads up NORSUF Running Group, amongst many other groups and activities (you can contact him here), said, "NORSUF Running Group are very grateful to Great Yarmouth Sporting and Leisure Trust for funding two Run leaders for our free group.  Sam and Russell with go on from their courses and be volunteer leaders in their communities.  This will provide opportunities for walkers, joggers and runners to join a supportive Running Group that welcomes all abilities slow or quicker.  I am very proud of what Sam and Russell have achieved in such a short space of time. Registration and participation in our group sessions and meet-ups are free.  Many of our members have already gone on to enter local Races, Fun-runs and charity events together.”

Our group will be supporting England Athletics #RunAndRevise and #RunAndTalk campaigns this year.     

Would your group or team benefit from funding? Visit here to see if you meet the criteria or please email us!

#runandtalk in more areas in the Great Yarmouth Borough

NORSUF RG at Gorleston Cliffs parkrun

Thai Chi provides a no cost activity called Run Together NORSUF Running Group, which was established in May 2017. During that time, 154 people have registered and walked/run with the group for free.

Trevor Rawson is the only volunteer Group and Run Leader. He facilitates two free sessions per week limited to a max 16 people per session. The group could expand if there are more volunteer leaders but they have to be trained and licenced. With two additional leaders the group size could increase and additional weekly sessions could be offered, helping more people to get out and run.

We have awarded funding so they can train two volunteer Run Leaders.  This will help open up more opportunities to join the group over a wider area around the borough.

Trevor says, “Established in 2016 NORSUF Running Group is a free and friendly welcoming environment for new runners. You do not have to be a runner or achieve any standard to join; everyone takes part their way. Receiving funding from Great Yarmouth Sport and Leisure Trust will allow us to train two additional volunteer Run Leaders for our Group. They will go on to conduct their own sessions welcoming more people to an activity that can, with regular practice be life changing. As an England Athletics Coach and Mental Health Champion I have seen some fantastic personal and physical achievements by our members. #Runandtalk”.

Gorleston student awarded more than £8000 to continue in wheelchair football

Full story at the EDP24

WE are so delighted to see East Norfolk Sixth Form College student, Edward Boca, is now competing at national level with his Norwich City Powerchair Football team. Caudwell Children are a national charity that provides practical and emotional support to disabled children and their families, they donated just over £8000 to step in and help him.

Do you know a talented individual who lives in the borough of Great Yarmouth? Do they need equipment, kit, tools to fundraise? Please let them know we offer funds up to £500!

Shrublands Junior Football Club awarded £500 funds

This is Bea and Lissy after an Under 10s game in February, from Shrublands JFC instagram account

Great Yarmouth Sport and Leisure Trust are delighted to announce the first recipient of funding, Shrublands Junior Football Club!

They are a Gorleston youth football club with 200+ members including one of a few girls teams in the area. They attract age groups of 3-16 and are very much a community club.

Facing broken or ageing equipment and kits, they reached out and applied for funds towards new sports equipment including goals, cones, bibs, and balls, new kit, and trophies for younger members of the club.

Kirk Towers from the club said “Fantastic investment into our club means we can replace old kit with new, we can’t thank you enough”. Our vision is that community run sports and recreational projects should benefit from grass root funding, and this club is INCREDIBLE.

To follow the progress of Shrublands Junior Football Club, please follow them on Facebook Twitter Instagram Website

We are accepting applications now from projects and individuals in the borough of Great Yarmouth, to review and award in February, please download your application form here!

Run with your community

parkrun is an inclusive event run entirely by volunteers who are all parkrunners themselves. It is not a race and anyone is welcome to come to walk, run, volunteer or spectate. With over 1.7 MILLION runners in the UK, it is a great way to start the weekend.

It is simple to register and all parkruns are free. The organisers are keen to make it accessible to all members of the community including those with disabilities and long term health conditions.

If you live in the borough of Great Yarmouth, your local parkruns are every Saturday at 9am at Gorleston Cliffs and also at Fritton Lake. 

Get active! If you haven't registered before, you can register here - see you there!

WE MAKE AWARDS OF UP TO £500 TO SUPPORT SPORT AND LEISURE COMMUNITY PROJECTS TO GET MORE PEOPLE ACTIVE IN THE BOROUGH OF GREAT YARMOUTH. CAN YOU HELP? THE APPLICATION FORM IS HERE!