When financial times are tough getting news that you have won the Big Lottery is a big lift.
Staff in Harrogate Borough Council’s sports development team are jumping for joy as they have been awarded £374,000 from the BIG Lottery to run a Fit4 Fun project aimed at getting people from all ages into involved in physical activity. This cash has come from the BIG Lottery Reaching Communities Fund.
They have consulted local rural communities to bid for this funding, as one of the rules is that proposals had to be developed with those who are going to benefit.
Jo Armstrong, Harrogate Borough Council’s Sport and Play Development Officer, wants to say a big thank you to them. “We had a lot of help and local knowledge to make sure that we submitted a bid that was viable and that the projects we identified could be fulfilled for the community’s benefit.”
The council is currently recruiting four staff who will be working with all age groups, from schools through to retirement homes encouraging people to participate in healthy activity.
Councillor Anthony Alton, Cabinet Member for Cultural Services, added: “This is a four year project and the funding from the lottery will be used to make sure that those who can’t easily access leisure and fitness facilities have the opportunity to get active.
“The team will be out and about in our parks and open spaces showing how easy it is to exercise without it costing anything. They will also be going into schools, children’s centres and sheltered accommodation. Getting healthy does have a huge benefit in that people will be less reliant on other public services such as GPs and hospitals. Putting the fun back into fitness will help.”
