Bramley-based Leeds Esprit Gymnastics Club has been awarded £5,850 of National Lottery funding to help the clubduring the on-going COVID-19 pandemic.
The outbreak of the virus and the consequent shutdown of businesses has left the sport and physical activity sector facing a period of uncertainty.
Sport England have provided a £195m package to help the sport and physical activity sector through Covid-19.
Within the package is a £20m Community Emergency Fund, made up of National Lottery money to deliver immediate funding to those who have a role in supporting the nation to be active but are experiencing short-term financial hardship or the ceasing of operations due to the impact of coronavirus.
The grant will help Leeds Esprit Gymnastics Club – which serves the Bramley, Pudsey and Swinnow areas – to cover ongoing costs such as insurance, occurring bills and maintenance costs over the coming months.
Chris Walker, one of Leeds Esprit’s Head coaches, said:
“As a community sports club, we are understandably concerned about the future of the club.
“We don’t have large reserves of money, as any extra funds along with fundraising, are always spent on improving the gym and buying new exciting equipment for all the members.
“At present finances for the coming months are stretched as our sources of income have ceased, but our regular commitments still have to be paid. We are trying our best to secure the future of the club. This grant will really help towards paying our bills, and maintaining the gym. We are very grateful to Sport England for their amazing support at this very worrying and difficult time.”
Tim Hollingsworth, Sport England’s Chief Executive, said:
“The £20m Community Emergency fund, made possible by National Lottery players is part of a multimillion pound package of support we are providing to ease the pressure on a huge number of the organisations who are central to the nation’s health and wellbeing.
“We are proud to be able to provide vital funding to Leeds Esprit Gymnastics Club to help it through these extremely challenging times.”