Massive boost for Norfolk sport

Mary HamiltonSports programmes in Norfolk have been handed more than half a million pounds as part of a new scheme to get rural communities participating in more sports.Mary Hamilton

Sports programmes in Norfolk have been handed more than half a million pounds as part of a new scheme to get rural communities participating in more sports.

Norfolk Village Games was awarded �577,000 to expand its work getting rural villages involved in sports and competitions together.

The cash comes from Sport England's new �10m National Lottery fund aimed at breaking down the barriers to sport faced by people living in rural communities, including problems with transport, lack of resources and facilities, and training issues.

Norfolk Village Games plans to build on the success of the West Norfolk Games, where they have been piloting a scheme to get more people involved.

Laurie Hull, chairman of Active Norfolk, which will run the project, said: 'I think a lot of the credit goes to West Norfolk, where they have been running their own games.

'Numbers were declining but a few years ago they got more funding and last year they had 35 villages take part with more than 1,000 participants.

'This grant will let us expand across the county, setting up three new permanent members of staff and running village volunteer sessions to help get sustainable sports programmes running.'