Burnley Pickleball Club has announced the award of a £7,900 grant from Sport England – recognising the work of the committee of volunteers who are developing pickleball in the north-west.
The grant application was supported by Pickleball England through Regional Development Officer Elaine Shallcross – and comes shortly after the confirmation of pickleball’s position as a recognised sport in the country.
Burnley Pickleball Club now aim to introduce at least 120 new players to the game over the year during which the grant will run, and will be investing in equipment including nets as well as supporting experienced players through leadership and coaching qualifications. They also intend to increase the number of sessions on offer across additional venues, and will be promoting these across traditional and new media.
Club treasurer Bryan Youlden prepared the bid, drawing on his previous successes as a volunteer in volleyball and sailing, and said: “We are thrilled that Sport England supports the initiative to get more people active in playing pickleball in Burnley and the surrounding area. Our aim is to grow our fun and accessible sport across all groups introducing new people whilst at the same time not forgetting the development of our existing enthusiasts. We welcome everyone to come and give it a go.”
