Hundreds of young North Tyneside footballers are setting their sights on new goals thanks to a four-figure grant from a regional employer.
Killingworth Young Peoples Club (KYPC) provides training and playing facilities for around 100 local football teams every week at their Amberley Playing Fields headquarters, ranging from very young children through to senior players.
The club, which is predominantly run by volunteers and has just set up its first girls’ team, has an inclusive policy of finding a team for every player who wants to play, and raises money to support its work through a variety of fundraising activities.
And now, a £5,000 grant secured from The Banks Group via its Banks Community Fund has now enabled the Club to buy two new sets of full-sized portable football goals, which will be used during both training sessions and matches.
The funding has also allowed the club to purchase a range of other much-needed equipment, including new training goals, footballs, training bibs, cones, flat-rung speed ladders and ‘free kick men’ around which players can practice taking shots at goal.
As well as running its own teams, KYPC hosts teams from over 20 clubs from across the community, most of which are comprised of young people who attend local schools, and provides equipment to each one to enable them to play.
It has also recently set up its own Academy to help players reach the levels they need to play competitively.
John Celino, club secretary at KYPC, says: “We’re very much focused on providing opportunities to play for any local young people who want to get involved, which puts a great deal of demand on the equipment that we have available.
“We try to keep it all in the best possible condition, and ensure that it’s used for as long as possible, but inevitably it will get worn out over time and will need replacing.
“While we’ve got a lot of fundraising activities taking place, the generous contribution that the Banks Group has provided really takes the pressure off for this year, and will make a huge difference to the enjoyment of hundreds of local footballers for many years to come.
“We’re trying to move towards only using portable goals, which take much less time to assemble and don’t need to be placed in holes in the ground that are trip hazards for the rest of the time, and we hope that our players make as much use of the back of them as they possibly can!”
Chris Kelsey, communications manager at the Banks Group, adds: “As well as helping them to improve their football, being part of KYPC helps young players learn more about teamwork, self-discipline and physical well-being, and we’re very pleased to be supporting the terrific work done by this excellent community club.”
The Banks Community Fund provides grants for community groups and voluntary organisations in the vicinity of both operational and proposed Banks Group projects. Anyone interested in applying for funding should contact James Eaglesham at the Banks Community Fund on 0191 378 6342.