- 17 projects across Northern Ireland to receive £2m share for artificial turf pitches and floodlights
- Forms the latest part of the UK Government’s major investment in grassroots facilities worth over £400m, including multi-sport pitches, tennis courts and swimming pools
- Investment supports the UK Government’s aim to get an additional 3.5 million adults and children active by 2030
Getting more exercise is the most common New Year’s resolution* and the UK Government is helping hundreds of thousands more people across the UK keep their resolutions and stay active by providing high-quality grassroots facilities. I am supporting.
From Coleraine to Newry, 17 projects will receive funding for state-of-the-art 3G artificial turf pitches and brand new floodlights. Work has already begun on 14 of these projects, with three more expected to start soon.
The project announced today will receive £2m from the UK Government in 2023/24, with £3.66m already allocated for next year.
Since 2021, the UK Government has used £1.3m of funding to deliver 54 projects across Northern Ireland, with at least 50 per cent of investment going to the most deprived and least active local authorities.
British Government Minister for Sport Stuart Andrew said:
> Sport and physical activity are essential to our mental health and wellbeing, and every year thousands of people make New Year’s resolutions to exercise more. > > We know that one of the major barriers to being active is access to quality sports facilities. That’s why we’re delivering 17 new projects across Northern Ireland. >> The UK Government and the Football Association of Ireland have already delivered more than 50 projects, backed by £1.3 million, to provide local communities with the high-quality facilities they need. ”
Chris Heaton-Harris, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, said:
Thanks to this fantastic UK Government initiative, communities across Northern Ireland will have even more space to gather, stay healthy and have fun.
Access to quality sports facilities promotes physical and mental health, and this scheme is sure to have a significant positive impact.
Irish FA CEO Patrick Nelson said:
Good grassroots football facilities mean a better experience for everyone attending the game, whatever the level.
The funding will provide 11 new artificial turf pitches and upgrade six existing pitches across Northern Ireland.
This is in line with our commitment to support new and improved facilities, and with UEFA EURO 2028 set to take place in the UK and Ireland, it is important that grassroots competitions across the country also benefit from the investment. . ”
This funding in Northern Ireland will deliver 17 artificial turf pitch projects and 12 sets of floodlights. Some of these projects were funded over two years.
Properties in Northern Ireland that will benefit from this year’s investment round include:
- Mountjoy United FC in Tyrone received £400,000 for a brand new artificial turf pitch and floodlights.
- Downpatrick’s Kilmore Recreation FC also received £400,000 to purchase a brand new artificial turf pitch and floodlights.
- Valley Rangers FC in Kilkeel received more than £230,000 for pitch upgrades.
- Rathmore Grammar School received £180,000 to upgrade its pitch and floodlights.
The full list of facilities that will benefit in Northern Ireland has been published today.
Since 2021, the UK Government has delivered new facilities and improvements to around 2,400 properties across the UK through a £325m program, aiming to boost activity for at least 120,000 more people. This investment supports grassroots clubs across the country, including women’s teams and women’s teams.
The Government’s Multisport Grassroots Facilities Program invests in new or refurbished facilities in areas where they are most needed. Through this program, better quality facilities will be made available for people to play soccer, rugby and other grassroots sports.
The UK Government recently announced a new sport strategy to help 2.5 million adults and 1 million young people in the UK meet the Chief Medical Officer’s guidance of 150 minutes a week for adults and 60 minutes a day for young people by 2030.
To help achieve this goal, the projects confirmed today are part of the Government’s unprecedented investment of more than £400m in grassroots facilities such as tennis courts and swimming pools in parks.
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Note to editors:
- In Northern Ireland, £2 million is being invested in projects in 2023/24, with £3.66 million available from the 2024/25 budget also announced today.
- For more information on how to get capital investment in your area, see the Football Foundation for England, the SFA for Scotland, the CFF for Wales and the IFA for Northern Ireland.
- As part of its drive for action, the government recently teamed up with former athletes, medical professionals and fitness experts to support an additional 3.5 million adults and children across the country to get physically active as part of a new sport by 2030. Established a Physical Activity Task Force. England’s strategy.
- *Forbes Advisor conducted a survey of 2,000 UK adults, representative of the UK (based on age/gender/region). The study was commissioned by Forbes Advisor and conducted by market research firm Opinium from November 14, 2023 to November 17, 2023.