Workington celebrate funding award

Workington AFC are one of six Northern Premier League clubs to win funding from the PitchingIn Trident Community Foundation.

The £4,000 funding will go towards The Friday Night Project, a new project designed to help tackle anti-social behaviour and increase participation in sport in the Moorclose, Westfield and Salterbeck areas of the town.

The application process was managed by the club’s new Foundation and they will oversee the scheme which will be run by Reds in the Community all under the banner of the parent club.

Reds Community Director, Richard Lewthwaite said: “Over the Christmas period we met with some amazing people whilst we were distributing food collected by fans, this led to a chance conversation with Angela Good at the Moorclose Community Centre regarding the need for a project such as this and that set us thinking”

“Once the Pitching In Grant application window opened we were able to put together a scheme that was both beneficial and most importantly sustainable, we didn’t want to go in there deliver six weeks of activity and then disappear, this had to be about the longer term.

“It really is a tremendous opportunity for all clubs playing at our level to go out and set a marker in their local community. We are thrilled to have been awarded this money and we know it will make a real difference, we simply could not deliver projects such as this without external funding.”

The scheme is planned to run every Friday night and this funding will enable it to last for 12 months. Sessions will be run alongside the South Workington Youth Partnership and will utilise the facilities at the Moorclose Community Centre. It will deliver free weekly football based activity for around 40 youngsters aged 10-16 under the watchful eye of Brian Dawson and his team of coaches at RITC. The Foundation will manage the scheme and it will culminate in the participants being guests at a future Reds 1st team game where they will meet the players and see the inner workings of the club.

Workington were one of 27 clubs across the Trident Leagues to benefit from the funding, as part of the recently launched foundation in partnership with league title sponsors PitchingIn.

Reds Chairman Dave Bowden added: “Establishing a Foundation to further develop our links with the community was one of the first priorities we set. Richard has done marvellous work in securing this award and we expect that once restrictions are lifted our Community Directors will be building the clubs brand further as the club becomes more inclusive. Everyone at the club is delighted.”

The Friday Night Project will be up and running as soon as Covid restrictions allow.

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