Football team wins big with help from 'Play it Forward' fund

Sports clubs have been urged to take advantage of a £50k fund for grassroots sports which has already helped a Kendal football team.

The Play it Forward Fund, launched last year by Fibrus Broadband, provides up to £1,000 per club for equipment, kits, facilities improvements, and training fee subsidies.

So far, around 20 organisations in Cumbria have benefited, including Wattsfield Youth Football Club, who've completed a successful season supported by a grant for new strips from the fund.

The fund hopes to encourage children to step away from their devices by getting active.

Linda McMillan, chief people officer at Fibrus, said: "Investing in local communities is one of our core mission statements at Fibrus and our Play it Forward Fund allows us to play a vital role in improving the health and wellbeing of children.

“Sports and clubs are intrinsic to the communities in which we operate, and we are committed to supporting these communities wholly, through both digital connectivity, but also to ensure clubs have access to essential funds to support children’s sports in their area.

"After such a good response to the fund last year, we are delighted to continue this initiative in 2024 to support grassroots community sports organisations.

"We are looking forward to the positive impact it will have on local communities in the upcoming year."

Wattsfield, a girls' under-15 team, went on to enjoy great successes on the pitch, winning the Westmorland FA Cup and being runners-up in the Lancaster & Morecambe Service to Youth League Cup.

Wattsfield coach Fran Tollerson said: "Fibrus have been our 2023-24 sponsors and we are truly grateful for their support.

“It can be very difficult to gain sponsorship and having the opportunity to apply to the Play It Forward Fund allowed our team of girls to get a brand new kit which helped to give them more confidence whilst playing football.”

The application for the next round of funding under Play it Forward is now open and will close on July 5.

Sports clubs across Cumbria can apply to the £50,000 fund via https://fibrus.com/play-it-forward-fund/.