Minima Yacht Club can ring in the Olympics with a hefty incentive after securing £50,000 to upgrade its premises from an Olympic legacy fund.
Sport England’s Inspired Facilities Fund, which grants up to £52m from the Places People Play legacy programme to clubs, community and voluntary sector groups and councils where this is a need for facility improvement.
Minima Yacht Club, along with other groups that have received funding, will carry the London 2012 Inspire mark to celebrate the upcoming games by displaying the logo inside facilities or on publicity material.
The club, which is located along the Kingston riverside, is delighted to have support from the People Places Play fund and looks forward to appealing to new members with upgraded premises after recently signing a 50-year lease.
The club will use the £50,000 grant to allow easier access to premises for the disabled, which includes wheelchair access to the first floor clubroom and riverside, in addition to modernising toilet, shower, and kitchen facilities. The grant will also allow for a new wooden sports floor, and an enhancement to the club entrance.
The upgrade will make the facility more accommodating to the disabled and promote sport and community use.
According to the Yacht Club’s Honorary Secretary Denise Norman: “Anyone can become involved, but you have to be a club member. With the new floors we are hoping to run a yoga and pilates class, and other activities for disabled children.”
Local Councillor Barry O’Mahony described the club as one of Kingston’s hidden gems and believes the grant will help the club become a more vibrant part of the Kingston riverside scene.
“We have stunning river views and once upgraded will be able to offer the Kingston community a first class facility for daytime and some evening usage – when our dinghy sailing and canoeing activities are not taking place,” said Norman.
Although renovations have commenced, the club will remain open and construction is predicted to finish by May.
Minima Yacht Club is one of 350 sports groups that have been offered support through the Inspired Facilities Fund. For more information please visit the Minima Yacht Club home page, or click here for more on the funding.
