Amateur sport In Heywood receives 'Cash 4 Clubs' funding

Roch Valley Raiders BMX Club

An amateur sports club in Heywood has been chosen to receive a grant as part of the latest round of funding from Betfair’s Cash 4 Clubs scheme. This round of funding saw hundreds of applicants and a grand total of £13,000 awarded to fifteen amateur sports clubs from across the U.K.

Roch Valley Raiders is a community based BMX race club which provides coaching and development opportunities for young people and adults from Heywood and surrounding areas. Having redeveloped an unused BMX track in the local park, the volunteers at the club have tried to instil a sense of pride about the park in its members and its presence has served in reducing anti-social behaviour in the area.

The club’s ultimate aim is to become self-sufficient by hosting its own regional races at the track. To achieve this aim, the club is looking to expand its dedicated group of volunteers and will use the grant to help qualify people interested in becoming coaches.

Yvonne Mills, committee member, said: "The £1,000 Cash 4 Clubs grant will send numerous volunteers to complete their first aid and safe guarding training and will even support one coach in attaining their Level 2 cycling and BMX specific coaching."

The Cash 4 Clubs programme is funded by Betfair, the world’s biggest betting exchange, in partnership with SportsAid. The scheme’s overriding aim is to provide much-needed cash directly into grassroots sport in the UK and has donated £189,194 to 269 clubs since its inception in 2008.

The judging panel, tasked with issuing the latest round of funding, were Tim Lawler, CEO at SportsAid, Lord Pendry, Andy Holmes, Brand Marketing at Betfair, and Amy Drake, Public Affairs at Betfair.

Following the panel meeting, Lord Pendry, Labour Member of the House of Lords and Former Shadow Minister for Sport said: “Being on the judging panel for Cash4Clubs was an illuminating experience as it’s wonderful to see how many grassroots sports there are throughout the UK making a real difference to people’s lives. We hope the grants awarded in this latest round will help continue to support their excellent work.”

Betfair’s Public Affairs Representative, Amy Drake, added: “It is great that in this Olympic year, when more and more people have been inspired to join a sports club, that Betfair has been able to provide the chance for more people to enjoy and experience sport. We saw so many brilliant applications from clubs around the country who are working hard to ensure sporting opportunities are accessible to all, so it is great that a further 15 clubs have been supported via Betfair’s Cash 4 Clubs programme. We hope that this will enable them to further the great work they’re doing.”

Cash 4 Clubs awards can be used to improve facilities, purchase new equipment and invest in a sports club. Awards of up to £1,000 per club are made three times a year, with applications judged by an independent committee. Applications for the next round of funding are now open and can be made by visiting www.cash-4-clubs.com.