news-engine

'Vital' grant keeps cricket sessions accessible to young people in Alkborough The council grant has kept costs down for families and helped 50 children attend practice A “vital” community grant has helped keep cricket sessions running for 50 children at Alkborough Cricket Club, ensuring that “finance is not a barrier” to getting kids to play. The £418 grant from North Lincolnshire Council went towards venue high at Winterton Sports Hall, giving the young players a regular place to train, stay active and develop their skills before the outdoor season began. The North Lincolnshire Council grant helped the club keep its junior pre-season training affordable, supporting sports hall hire between January and April. The children and young people were offered two weekly sessions, one for children in school Years 2 to 6 and another for young people in Years 7 to 11, giving players the chance to train with others at a similar age and stage of development. For families, the grant also helped keep costs down. The training sessions were about more than cricket, giving children the chance to build confidence, make friends, support one another and feel part of a welcoming local club. Alkborough Cricket Club’s junior section welcomes children of different ages and abilities, from complete beginners to those already playing regularly. Cllr Rob Waltham, leader of the council, said: “This is exactly the kind of difference community grants are there to make. For the young people taking part, these sessions mean more than time in a sports hall. They mean confidence, friendship, teamwork and the chance to keep doing something they enjoy without cost getting in the way. Local clubs do a brilliant job giving children positive opportunities, and we are proud to support them where we can.” A spokesperson for Alkborough Cricket Club said: “Our junior section is a thriving, inclusive group of young people who support one another and are an absolute credit to our coaches and the club. This grant from North Lincolnshire Council was vital. By helping towards us securing Winterton Sports Hall for pre-season training, we were able to keep coaching costs down and ensure that finance is not a barrier to sports participation. We want to keep cricket affordable and accessible for every child in our community.” Alkborough Cricket Club welcomes new members of all ages, genders and abilities. Anyone interested in getting involved can find Alkborough Cricket Club on Facebook, where the club shares training schedules, match details and contact information. Community groups and organisations can find out more about grant funding on the North Lincolnshire Council website. Did you know you can make Grimsby Live a preferred source of news in Google, which will mean you get more of our breaking news, exclusives, and must-read stories straight away? Here's more information about what this means and how to do it - you can also do it straight away by clicking here .