Sirius Minerals Foundation to share £52,000 among Scarborough, Whitby and East Cleveland sports clubs

A total of 56 not-for-profit sporting clubs and groups from across Redcar, East Cleveland and the Whitby and Scarborough areas have each been awarded small grants of up to £1,000 to purchase kit, equipment or invest in training that will support the participation of local people in amateur sport.

Groups have also had the opportunity to apply for capital grants of between £20,000 and £50,000 to create new or improve existing sports facilities in the area, the successful recipients of which are expected to be announced in due course.

David Archer, Chairman of the Sirius Minerals Foundation, said: “We received a great deal of interest and enquiries from local sports clubs and societies in previous rounds, and we want to ensure that we meet local demand and needs.

"Amateur sports clubs are an important part of the social fabric of the area – they can make such a positive difference to people, helping them lead healthier, more fulfilled lives.

“The Board was blown away by the volume of high-quality applications for a vast range of sports.

"During the very tough selection process, it sought to achieve a balance across geography and various types of sport as well as the gender and age of participants.”

This is the third grants programme launched by the Sirius Minerals Foundation, an independent charity set up by Sirius Minerals to spend a share of future revenues from its Woodsmith Mine near Whitby with the local community.

The charity has already awarded over half a million pounds to projects throughout Redcar and Cleveland, Whitby, Scarborough and the National Park, including education and skills training, improving public spaces and facilities, health and wellbeing, environmental initiatives, and community building schemes.

The Foundation has received initial funding of £2m from Sirius Minerals Plc to coincide with the construction of the Woodsmith Mine and will receive an annual royalty of 0.5% of sales when the mine is operational.

“The Foundation is an integral part of our approach,” said Gareth Edmunds, External Affairs at Sirius Minerals.

“It has always been important to us that the local area benefits as much as possible.

"The Foundation is an important means to help us achieve that and to provide a lasting legacy for the local community.”

The full list of recipients

Ayton FC, Boosbeck Cricket Club, Borough Bowling Club, Brompton Cricket Club, Brotton Railway Arms FC, Castleton, Danby And District Bowling Club, Castleton Tennis Club, Cayton Cricket Club, Charltons Badminton Club, Cleveland Orienteering Klub (Clok), Danby Hockey Club, East Coast Tigers, Eastfield Athletic FC, Egton Cricket Club – Manual Application, Filey Holt FC, Fryup Quoits Club, Glaisdale Cricket Club, Grangetown Netball Club, Guisborough Amateur Swimming Club, Guisborough Ladies And Girls FC, Hinderwell & District Sports And Youth Club, Ichi Taikan Karate Club, Kingfishers Swimming Club, Marske United Juniors, Marske Volleyball Club, Normanby United, North Riding Sub Aqua Club – Whitby, Redcar Hockey Club, Redcar Town Under 13s Girls Lionesses, Redcar Triathlon Club, Rosedale Abbey Football Club, Saltburn & Marske Asc, Scalby Cricket Club, Scalby Tennis Club, Scarboccia, Scarborough Archers, Scarborough Gymnastics Academy, Scarborough Hockey Club, Scarborough Netball Club, Willow's Lull, Scarborough Sea Cadets, Scarborough Squash Academy, Scarborough Table Tennis Premier Club, Scholes Park Junior Football Club, Seamer Sports FC, Skelton United FC, Sleights Football Club Juniors, Staintondale Hunt Branch Of The Pony Club, West Pier Junior Football Club, Whitby And District Riding Club, Whitby Cricket Club, Whitby Fishermans Amateur Rowing Club, Whitby Fishermen Society, Whitby Hockey Club, Whitby Running Club, Whitby Wheelers Cycling Club, 740 Whitby Squadron Atc – Mountain Bike Team.