Gordano Sharks maximise play time with £20,000 community grant
Gordano Rugby Football Club has received £20,000 from National Grid to to install new LED floodlighting which has extended the usability of the pitches into the evening, improved the playing experience for club members, and enhanced safety and security at the ground.
The Club - home of the Sharks - is a real community club which runs 20 teams including female and junior teams from age four and up, and provides space to support community health, wellbeing, and safety.
Gordano RFC is truly homegrown, demonstrated by the volunteering efforts of members who supported the building of an extension at the club to offer female and disabled toilets as well as baby changing facilities. In addition to this, in a climate of reduced local authority funding resulting in a reduction in services for young people, the club has stepped in to provide organised and disciplined team sports to the local community.
The National Grid Community Grant Funding is supporting these efforts to make the club as inclusive and accessible as possible, allowing for 300 players to train midweek in first class facilities, enhanced weekly training experiences for volunteer coaches and a reduction in electricity bills for floodlights by up to 40%.
Improving accessibility for our members is one of our priorities. The new lighting has improved the playing experience and safety for everyone.
Don Mowbray, Chairman at Gordano Rugby Football Club said, "Improving accessibility for our members is one of our priorities. Thanks to National Grid and their Community Grant scheme, Gordano Rugby Football Club has been able install new LED floodlighting that extends the usability of the pitches into the evening; improving the playing experience for club members and enhancing safety for everyone.”
On a visit to the club to see the difference the new lighting is making Steven Haskayne, Project Director for the Hinkley Connection Project said, “We’re approaching the final construction stages of the Hinkley Connection and really want to leave a positive legacy for the communities that have been affected by our works. We are delighted to have been able to support Gordano Rugby Football Club as it works to improve access to team sports in the area, as well as help reduce the club’s running costs.”
Through our Community Grant Fund we’ve now provided over 100 grants worth £1.5 million to groups along the Hinkley Connection route. These grants mean that organisations such as Gordano Rugby Football Club can better serve and benefit local communities long into the future.”
When completed, the Hinkley Connection Project will connect six million homes and businesses to new sources of low-carbon, homegrown energy including from the new Hinkley Point C power station.
