by announcing a new £30million community initiative to create sustainable sports
facilities across the UK. The scheme, called Barclays Spaces for Sports, will
also provide kit and equipment.
This investment is the single largest injection of cash into grassroots sport
ever committed by a corporate company in the UK.
Combined with the Barclays Premiership it makes Barclays one of the country’s
biggest financial supporters of sport, with £87 million committed over the next
three years.
Barclays Spaces for Sports is a partnership between Barclays, the Football
Foundation and Groundwork.
As Barclays new flagship community scheme, Barclays Spaces for Sports aims to
combine the best of the Bank’s expertise to make a real difference to
communities through the provision of sites that allow people to participate in
sport.
The scheme combines the best of these organisations community expertise:
Barclaycard Free Kicks, a successful £4 million three-year grassroots football
programme and Barclays SiteSavers, an urban regeneration community scheme that
has run for the last nine years.
Gary Hoffman, a main Board Director of Barclays Bank PLC, said: "Barclays has
invested in this programme because we believe sport can have a huge impact upon
society in terms of health and positive social values. With a project of this
size we are going to make a genuine impact on the state of grassroots sport
across the UK."
Dave Richards, Football Foundation: "This partnership will build on the
impressive investment programme already undertaken by the Football Foundation in
the grass roots game since 2000. The Barclays Spaces for Sport programme will
leave a lasting legacy for sport in this country and will provide modern
community facilities for thousands of young people throughout the country."
Tony Hawkhead, Groundwork: "Barclays Spaces for Sports builds on nine years of
helping people to improve their local environment through the 'Barclays
SiteSavers' programme. Access to good quality open spaces with well-kept
facilities are vital to our health and well-being. Barclays Spaces for Sports
will give local people the support to create their own place for exercise,
leisure and fun and we are delighted to continue our long-standing partnership
with Barclays on this programme. "
Barclays Spaces for Sports is to be officially launched in September 2004 when
full details of the scheme, including the application process, will be
announced.