BAT's BADMINTON Club has been awarded an £8,000 grant from Sport England to improve badminton opportunities in the Tavistock area of West Devon.
Working alongside Hannah Colston (West Devon Sports development officer) and Jenny Phipps (Badminton England regional officer for Devon), BAT's Badminton Club is aiming to create new and exciting opportunities for badminton in the Tavistock area.
This last year has seen four club members train to be level one badminton coaches and four players will shortly be starting their training to be level two coaches. The club hopes to develop the coaching work that is already happening by working alongside primary and secondary schools in the area to lend and provide equipment and coaching expertise.
Sport England invests National Lottery and Exchequer funding in projects that will grow and sustain participation in grass-roots sport and create opportunities for people to excel at their chosen sport.
Alan Berry, the chairman of BAT's Badminton Club said: 'BATs has always been a forward thinking badminton club with many of our junior players going onto represent the club at adult level, Devon at both junior and senior level and universities across England. This grant will mean that BAT's will be able to replace worn out posts and nets, purchase equipment to help the coaches working with Primary and Secondary Schools, and train more coaches.'
Hannah Colston, said: 'Alan Berry and the BATs Badminton Club have worked very hard to obtain this grant funding through Sport England's vigorous process. The club offer such a lot for the community, helping other clubs in the area and always promoting Badminton to all abilities and ages.'
Jenny Phipps, Badminton England regional officer for Devon. said: 'It is fantastic news not only for BAT's Badminton Club but West Devon as well. The club are very keen to develop opportunities for people to play badminton across the whole of West Devon and the funding will make a huge difference in helping them achieve this. Badminton England are looking forward to working with the club to help them deliver this project.'
* BAT's Badminton Club meets on Thursday evenings at Bere Alston Primary School from 7pm to 9pm: the junior club meets on a Tuesday evening during term time. For more information, please contact Alan Berry on (01822) 854776 or [email protected]">[email protected]