Thomas Cook and Sport England Help Disadvantaged Kids

August 4, 2011

Sport England and Thomas Cook have joined in a partnership to offer $820,500 to the Inspired Facilities fund for the improvement of sporting opportunities for disadvantaged youngsters in the UK

Inspired Facilities is part of the Places People Play legacy programme, which aims to bring the Olympic and Paralympic Games to communities across the country, investing $82 million from the National Lottery through five rounds of funding.

Thomas Cook have given local sports clubs and facilities the chance to apply for investment.

“We are proud to be working in partnership with Sport England and have allocated £500,000 of our charitable funds to help invest in our sports stars of the future.” said Vice-chairman of Thomas Cook Children’s Charity Pip Tyler

“As Thomas Cook is one of the key sponsors of the 2012 Olympics, we are keen to nurture home grown talent and ensure sporting opportunities are accessible in the most deprived areas of England.”

Sport England chair Richard Lewis added: “We are really pleased to be working with Thomas Cook Children’s Charity to deliver improved sporting opportunities for disadvantaged young people across the country.

“Building partnerships, like this, are essential if we are to create a world-leading community sport system and deliver a lasting grassroots legacy from London 2012.”

There is a possibility of funds up to $57 million of the funds available will be going directly to community and voluntary organisations with grants ranging from $33,000 – 82,000 available, and the remainder of the money will be open to a wider group of councils, schools and similar organisations for up to $246,000 per grant.

The investment can help to renovate tired facilities, making them more cost effective and easy to maintain, as well as restoring the clubs to the heart of their communities.

Hugh Robertson, the Minister for Sport and the Olympics, said: “This £50 million fund is a huge boost to community sport.

“It will transform local sports facilities up and down the country and leave a lasting legacy from London 2012 at a local level.”