New Football Club Receives Funding for New Kit

We’re delighted to support Yarmouth United Football Club, with a new full kit to help them get the new football club off the ground.

Yarmouth United FC has over 20 players and plans to encourage more people to be involved, increasing the number of players to include teams in all age groups. The funding will be used to purchase a full kit for their new men’s team, including full goalkeeper kit.

The club has appointed managers Mikey Grayson from Martham FC and Lee Hackleton from Great Yarmouth Town FC and the club has already had magnificent results from friendly games played in April.

Travis Manning, Yarmouth United FC Secretary said “We are absolutely thrilled to be in receipt of a start-up grant from Great Yarmouth Sports & Leisure Trust which has provided us with the opportunity to purchase kit for our new football club. As a new club, this funding means absolutely everything to us as the start-up costs are expensive so this will go a long way and help us by providing a kit for our new men’s team. Thank you so much GYS&L!”

We wish Yarmouth United FC every success for the future and look forward to seeing their progress along the way.

For the latest news on Yarmouth United Football Club, follow on Facebook and Twitter

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 2021.

Equipment for new and exciting dance and musical theatre company

We’re delighted to support Isabella Weller with equipment to ensure success in her new start-up: Isabella’s Dance and Musical Theatre Company.

Isabella is a dance/musical theatre teacher based at Gorleston Pavilion Theatre and currently has 65 students with more waiting in the wings to join up. Investing her own funds into her new venture, Isabella needed help with purchasing an iPad for storing choreography videos, music, and admin tasks, so she can continue to teach her online classes and her workshops and group classes which are due to start again in mid-April.

The funding will also be used to purchase dance mats and ribbons for Isabella’s babies’ classes and balance boards and yoga mats for other classes. The current timetable includes Bella’s Ballerinas, and musical theatre classes for babies, juniors, and seniors.

Isabella wants to encourage young people to be interested in the performing arts, including dancing, singing, fitness and performing and her future plans include showcasing the company’s student talent in events such as local fetes, charity events, carnivals and shows.

In receiving the funding, Isabella said “I am extremely grateful to have been given this grant, the money will be going towards a new iPad which will benefit me and the students massively. With starting this business on my own and funding everything myself, the new and up to date iPad will be a very important asset to my business. I cannot wait to open and meet all my new students and get started with rehearsals for upcoming local performances. Thank you very much!!”.

We wish Isabella every success in her new venture 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 and would like to apply for up to £500 of funding, we are taking applications for awarding in May 2021.

New women’s team at Caister Football Club receives funding for new kit

We’re only too pleased to support Caister Football Club with funding for a new women’s football team kit. With management and players already lined up, the club is establishing a female adult football team and the club want to ensure their team is kitted out ready for next season.

Established over 100 years ago, Caister FC have nine youth teams and three adult teams making them over 300 members strong. The club aims to enable people of all ages, genders, and abilities to participate in grassroots football and offer a facility for the community. The club is so passionate about being involved in the local community, that it helped to provide free meals for vulnerable people at the start of the pandemic. See here for the full story.

In their wish to promote the participation of female players, to increase awareness and to offer more women the opportunity to join a local team, Alan Pearce, Chairman commented “All of us at Caister FC consider that it is crucial to broaden our engagement with the local community. We believe grassroots sport will become ever more important in the future and our ambition is to provide the best environment for the club members. Obtaining this funding from the Great Yarmouth Sport and Leisure Trust will diversify what we can offer and enhance our sustainability. We are very grateful that they share in our vision for the future of the club."

Watch out for the new women’s kit which we’re excited to report will include Great Yarmouth Sport and Leisure Trust branding!

For the latest news on Caister FC, follow on Facebook, Twitter and their website

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 2021.

Movie-making equipment for Dragons

We are delighted to announce we’re supporting Dragons Stage and Theatre School with funding for camera equipment so they can incorporate ‘movie making’ to further involve their students and showcase their work to the community.

A well-known group in the Great Yarmouth area, the school teaches theatre skills, singing, dancing and acting to local young people between 6 and 16 years. The school started over 30 years ago from St. George’s Theatre and Caister High School and are now at Filby Village Hall. Students are welcome from all backgrounds and ethnicities and there are no auditions to join the group. Past productions have included the UK premier of 'Around the World in 80 Days'; Annie; Disney's Beauty and the Beast; and Alice in Wonderland, as well as recurring productions of Stephen Sondheim's 'Into the Woods' among over 40 others.

The school recognises the importance of developing a sense of self-worth and confidence in their students, incorporating theatre games, singing and dancing into their work, and encourage working together, where the students as a group support each other, with a sense of family and belonging.

During the past 12 months, the performing arts group have been actively thinking of new ways to engage their students, setting up an online teaching page and using social media to showcase activity the children have engaged with from home. Since their audiences are no longer able to attend their shows for the foreseeable future, the school are making their performances more accessible to the community by recording shows and including ‘movie making’ as part of the work they do.

The grant will enable the school to purchase a camera and equipment to produce videos of students’ performances and to enable the students to produce short films for their families, friends and the community. This participation from the students enhances their self-worth, wellbeing, confidence and develops character building; and the adults, tutors, fundraisers and parent helpers in the school will have the opportunity to learn new skills in photography, film making and theatre skills. The school hopes the short films will encourage other young people and the wider community to get involved.

Nigel Alexander, the school’s Director said “over the past year, performance groups, both large and small, have needed to become increasingly inventive when it comes to just doing what they do. This is just as true for theatre schools as it is for the adult theatre performers. The inability to have a live audience, whether that would be the children's parents and supporters or the general public attending the numerous fetes and carnivals in the area, has required a change in direction.

As we have been required to perform in a socially distanced way, the Dragons have exchanged their live audience for a virtual one by making movies of all their work. This has been challenging and during the past year we have developed a need for better recording equipment to further the school's new style of working. The grant supplied by the trust will mean we can now move forwards more rapidly with our productions, whether that is a show, dance or singing and then post these to the local area. Our thanks again for this wonderful support."

The school can be contacted on their main Facebook page or on their website

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 2021. 

Sunbeams Play receives grant for leisure equipment

Member of Sunbeams using the new table

Sunbeams Play is a registered charity, with an Outstanding Ofsted rating providing a fun, safe and caring environment for children and young people with autism up to 25 years old. The members can relax and play in a comfortable environment, alongside or with others who have similar needs. 

It can be difficult for their eighty members to engage in mainstream activities due to a variety of social needs, behaviour and anxieties, so the team asked the group what equipment they would like. 

Support is given to improve social skills, self-awareness, confidence and increased self-esteem. A number of the children and young people dislike exercise or competition, but had shown an interest in table tennis. 

The group decided an outdoor table tennis table would benefit them, as everyone can play, it would provide peer interaction, lower frustrations and aggression while improving physical activities and skills such as balance and coordination.

“Autism is a communication and social disorder affecting all areas. Games that enable competition in a fun way encourage acceptance of rules and the possibility of not winning. Those attending are supported to gain confidence and self-awareness, to recognise their own and others achievements. Building confidence and acceptance of others prevents emotional difficulties and aggressive responses, leading to greater acceptance from others and acceptance in the community.” Susan Carr, Deputy Manager

The new table is strong and robust, and can withstand a lot of use. Being able to encourage more movement and interaction will increase physical and emotional well being, lowering the need for mental health services, improving interaction at the centre, at home and within the community. 

We’re pleased to be able to support, as due to the government lockdown 'free' income and funds have been used to maintain the centre and to provide online and distanced support. 

You can follow their progress on Facebook and Instagram

If you are part of a fantastic team in our borough and would like to apply for up to £500 of funding, we are taking applications for awarding in February 2020

Shrublands FC receive grant to help purchase essential equipment

WE ARE STILL ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS. WHILE YOU AND YOUR TEAMS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MEET IN PERSON, PLEASE #STAYHOMESTAYACTIVE. 

We are delighted to be able to support Shrublands FC, which has endured some terrible hardships since 2019. The growing, non-profit community club has been successfully running since 1988, and currently has approximately 180 children and adults at the club. 

“We offer a safe and fun environment for all our adults and children while teaching them how to play football and socialise and bond within the community.”

Back in 2019, their clubhouse was set alight as a result of arson where they lost hundreds of pounds in equipment and kits. Then in 2020 with Covid, they have suffered with a loss of income from frozen sub payments and missed out on hosting two tournaments which resulted in a big loss to the club. These events help support improvements and upgrades to worn out equipment and help towards replacing team kits for the coming season.

Fortunately, they are now at stage three with the local council and other funding bodies on the rebuild of the clubhouse. However, they’ve have been unable to replace all the equipment lost due to damage. They are in need of equipment to help with the upkeep of the pitches and make improvements to the grounds, which will benefit not just their members but also the local community.

The field is open to members of the public 24/7 and they would like to be able to maintain the pitches regularly to benefit the whole community - with our grant going towards the purchase of a tractor.

“We are a small club compared to most around the area, however, we are continually growing through advertising on social media and word of mouth. The tractor would help us immensely, as at the moment we are relying on the council or borrowing equipment to maintain our ground and pitches regularly. The field is not just for members of Shrublands Football Club, it is for members of the public and community too.” Emily Wright, Committee Member.

You can follow their progress here: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

If you are part of an amazing sports team and would like to apply for up to £500 of funding, we are taking applications for awarding in February 2021.

Essential winter maintenance funding awarded to Caister Cricket Club

WE ARE STILL ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS. WHILE YOU AND YOUR TEAMS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MEET IN PERSON, PLEASE #STAYHOMESTAYACTIVE. 

A hard-working cricket club with 30 plus members is the latest recipient of our grant scheme.

"We are a friendly, sociable and inclusive cricket club. We currently have two teams, one Saturday side and one Sunday side. We also run the ECB All Stars Program with a view to starting a youth system, starting with an under nine softball side”

The roof before being redone

The grant is to help cover repairs to the equipment container roof which is leaking due to corrosion. This will help protect and maintain all of the club’s equipment, including groundwork equipment such as mowers, scarifier, line marking equipment, stumps, flags and rakes, as well as clothing, helmets, pads, gloves and training gear.

By fitting a new roof, essential equipment will be maintained for the next 10+ years. Furthermore, being able to store and maintain equipment in a dry environment, cricket can be played in the village for both youth and adults alike in terms of training, coaching and matches, for years to come.

Like so many, this year has been the most difficult to date for the club. They have worked hard for what they have, and while income has dropped considerably, along with their ability to raise funds through events such as quiz evenings and sponsorship, the last thing they need is to have to replace all of the training, match and ground working equipment due to water damage. 

“As you can see from the before and after photos, the container roof repair has been a great success. it's a vast improvement. Without the support from the Great Yarmouth Sports and Leisure Trust, we would not have been able to carry out this work in this difficult and unprecedented time. This project enables us to protect and maintain the extensive equipment required to run a cricket club. It is the hope that when this returns to normal, the people of Caister and beyond will be able to come and join us in what we believe to be the world's greatest sport. Thanks again for your help and support.” Michael Church, Club Captain, Child Welfare Officer and Coach. 

You can follow their progress here and on Facebook and Twitter. 

If you are part of an amazing sports team and would like to apply for up to £500 of funding, we are taking applications for awarding in February 2021.

The roof following a makeover

Repps Bowls Club receives the latest grant to go towards essential new equipment

A wonderful grant to give, we are thrilled to announce Repps Bowls Club this September. A small, vital club for village social life with an elderly membership, they have been hit hard by the pandemic of 2020.

‘It has been challenging with our members isolating, not being able to play games nor being able to arrange any fund-raising activities. However, we are planning for the future and look forward to playing again next summer. We have to maintain the playing and surrounding areas and the grant we have received from Great Yarmouth Sports and Leisure will enable us to purchase new equipment so that we can achieve our aims.’ David Hyams - Club Fundraiser

The club is 45 years old but needs some good old fashioned TLC, as the clubhouse and fencing needs repairing and the mower needs new parts to actually mow! There is no electricity supply at the club and the generator needs replacing. With the majority of the team being in their 70s-80s it's an important part of their weekly routine and a great activity for them.

Funds are low and fundraising has been impossible due to Covid-19 and even the moles are against them as they wreak havoc with the green! However, they want to ensure a future for the club and their intentions going forward is to attract more members and keep this important part of the village's social life going for future generations.

If you are part of a fantastic team in our borough and would like to apply for up to £500 of funding, we are taking applications for awarding in November 2020

Caister FC receive funding for new dugouts

We are proud to announce our latest funding has been awarded to Caister FC, a club with seven youth sides ranging from under 9’s up to under 16’s and three adult sides. With players, managers and committee members they have over 200 members!

The grant has been awarded to support the build of some permanent dugouts beside the football pitch.

The club provides people across all ages, genders and ability the opportunity to participate in grassroots football. Success is not just measured by winning but by how many teams and players they are able to give the opportunity to participate in sport. The new dugouts will allow all members to stay warm and dry, whilst they are on the sideline, not to mention other groups such as the cricket team for example.

"Funding for grassroots sport is difficult at the best of times but in the current climate, it is especially so. Caister F.C. is an ambitious club and to get additional support from GYS&LT is vital to our plans. We are really grateful to everyone at GYSLT that share and believe in our ambitions by the awarding of this grant." Alan Peace Chairman, Caister Football Club.

You can follow their progress on Twitter here.

If you are part of a fantastic team in our borough and would like to apply for up to £500 of funding, we are taking applications for awarding in November 2020.

Cliffside Royalettes receive funding for equipment and training kit.

DURING THE COVID-19 CRISIS, WE ARE STILL ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS.  

Photo Credit: Cliffside Royalettes

It’s that time again, and we are thrilled to announce the latest recipient of one of our grants. The Cliffside-Royalettes, a BBTSA twirling troupe, based in Gorleston, Great Yarmouth.

They currently have 14 members and have been a part of the community for 40 years, training regularly at Cliff Park High School and a club with community spirit at the heart of what it does. 

The funds will go towards the purchase of equipment and training kit, allowing the troupe to not only train and practice but to enter national competitions.

Their members regularly meet with other baton twirlers from around Norfolk at regular training sessions and equipment is often shared. The purchase of more kits means they will be able to accommodate more members and continue to operate within the community, as they have for the last 40 years.

“Many members have been involved for over 10 years and this is a regular source of fitness and activity for everyone involved” - Susan McWilliam, Chairperson. 

You can follow the team’s progress here

If you are part of a fantastic team in our borough and would like to apply for up to £500 of funding, we are taking applications for awarding in September 2020.

Cliff Park Comets Receive Funding for International Competitive Racing

DURING THE COVID-19 CRISIS, WE ARE STILL ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS.

Is it a bird, is it a plane? No, it’s the Cliff Park Comets!

We are thrilled to announce our latest round of funding has been awarded to a very ambitious and worthwhile team: The Cliff Park Comets. The talented student team from Cliff Park Academy have received our latest funding to help support their build and race initiative.

The project allows students to learn, build and race self-built electric cars (within certain specifications) to compete in an international race series alongside other schools involved in the initiative.

The contribution from the Trust will allow the team to have a competitive edge, which sits well with our ambition to help grow youth interest in sport in all its forms.

“This vital grant will go towards the development of the car for the coming season, allowing us to purchase vital new parts to make the car more competitive," said Nick Herridge.

You can follow their progress here and on social media. 

If you are part of an amazing team in our borough and would like to apply for up to £500 of funding, we are taking applications for awarding in September 2020.

Winterton Cricket Club receives our latest grant

DURING THE COVID-19 CRISIS, WE ARE STILL ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS. WHILE YOU AND YOUR TEAMS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MEET IN PERSON, PLEASE #STAYHOMESTAYACTIVE. 

Winterton Cricket Club receives our latest grant.

We are delighted to announce our latest grant recipient: Winterton Cricket Club!

The club has operated for over 30 years, offering competitive and friendly cricketing opportunities to residents. Usually operating two adult teams and a ladies team at the weekend, the club plays league and friendly fixtures, as well as two junior teams during the week. In recent years the club has grown significantly, with over 75 adults members and around 20 juniors, bucking the trend of local participation for many clubs.

Providing these opportunities in a small, rural catchment is crucial because sport in the local area has declined. However, the club has managed to become sustainable and grow its ladies and junior sections. 

'The funds will have an instant and long term positive impact on our club,' said Ben Utting, Chairman of the Cricket Club. "Helping to fund a batting cage that can be transported onto the club's pitch to increase participation in netting and practice sessions for the ladies, adult and junior teams, who will train with specialist coaches. It is a galvanised steel cage with netting, that allows for safe and secure practice, instead of the netting currently used (which was sadly subject to vandalism)."

The grant will help increase the number of practice sessions, encouraging more people to attend in a safe and secure environment for players of all ages and ability to participate.

You can follow their progress here and on social media.

If you are part of an amazing sports team and would like to apply for up to £500 of funding, we are taking applications for awarding in May 2020.

Spartans Amateur Boxing Club receives funding boost to support young boxers

We know sports clubs play a vital role in their community - not only do they help to unite different groups of people; they provide an escape from everyday life. A boxing group in Great Yarmouth is leading the way with this as it engages members in physical activity and supports young people who need self-confidence to deal with anti-social behaviour. Only opening in 2018, they already have 3 title winners under their belts!

We are thrilled to announce we have awarded funding to the wonderful boxing club the Spartans ABC. The grant was used to purchase specialist equipment that allows them to compete to required AIBA equipment standards. These items will allow all their boxers to compete at the highest level and at national boxing events.

“The funding will buy boxing gloves and head-guards so more members can be involved in boxing shows.”

“The funding is a fantastic contribution to the club as it will be spent on extra equipment for the ever-growing number of young children joining Spartans ABC. We have a large number of enthusiastic, talented and aspiring young boxers and the funding will buy boxing gloves and head-guards so more members can be involved in boxing shows which we actively participate in on a weekly basis, across the country,” said coach Tony Norman.

If you are part of an amazing sports team and would like to apply for up to £500 of funding, then we are taking applications for awarding in February 2020.

Success Stories for Local Groups

Left to right: Ben Flaxman from Shrublands JFC, Andrew Grant and Graham Plant, board members of Great Yarmouth Sport and Leisure Trust, and Alan Pearce Chairman of Caister Football Club. Photograph by David Woodcock. - Missing is a representative from Revolutionary Roots.

We’re really pleased that funds totalling £1500.00 have been awarded to three local groups this Autumn by the Great Yarmouth Sport and Leisure Trust. The Trust would like everyone in the borough of Great Yarmouth, regardless of age, background, or level of ability to be involved in sport and physical activity. 

This grass roots funding is for groups and individuals who help support some of the least active people in the borough, as well as maintaining facilities for those already active.

The three groups are:

Caister FC

Caister Football Club has received an extra boost to its attempts to improve their playing field which is in poor repair as it is not maintained well enough, with a £500 award. 

A spokesperson from the club said: “This grant will allow the football pitches to be used by more teams and help the club to continue growing in size, allowing people across all ages, genders and ability the opportunity to participate in grass roots football nearer to home (adult sides are currently paying to train elsewhere). It will also help other groups who use the field (cricket club, scouts and the general public), as well as giving new teams access.“

Shrublands JFC

Shrubland JFC 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”.

Revolutionary Roots

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. 

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.”

As a registered charity, our purpose is to benefit the public in the borough of Great Yarmouth.  Maybe you’re a club or an individual that needs new equipment. Perhaps you’re a coach or a teacher wanting to start a group and you need kit, or marketing costs supported. We’re also very keen to help groups who are historically not participating in sport to get involved. Please see our online criteria form to check eligibility. Good luck!



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!