Charities community grants help keep people in Cheshire East playing sport

The Everybody Foundation is helping to relieve some of the cost of living pressures within Cheshire East, by giving out two grant awards to a club and an individual based in Wilmslow.

The Everybody Foundation provides grants on behalf of young people to help keep them playing a sport they love.

Wilmslow Lightning Netball Club applied for a grant from the Everybody Foundation to enable them to create a hardship fund for players whose families are struggling financially. Helena Banfield, Wilmslow Lightning Netball Club Chair shared:

"Wilmslow Lightning Netball Club are delighted to receive a grant from the Everybody Foundation. The money received will allow us to continue our hardship fund, supporting netballers and their families in paying for monthly subs and match fees, ensuring that our club remains open and inclusive for our community".

Having identified players who are charged a reduced training fee already covered by the club, they will use the £250 grant to offer additional support ensuring they keep playing Netball, breaking down barriers to participation.

The Wilmslow Lightning Netball Club also requested the grant to include period kits in their training/kit bags for players. This idea was well-received by Everybody Foundation Trustees – it aligns with Everybody’s ‘Caught Short Locker’ initiative which provides free sanitary and personal hygiene products in all Everybody Leisure Centres. As a result, Everybody have donated 25 period kits for each of Wilmslow Lightning's active teams.

Young Tennis Enthusiast:

Yuliia Ukrainets applied for funding from the Everybody Foundation, for a new tennis racket on behalf of her daughter Stefaniia, who is 14 years old.

Yuliia and Stefaniia both arrived in Wilmslow from Ukraine just over 2 months ago. Stefaniia played tennis for several years growing up in Ukraine but wasn’t able to play over the past year and a half. Since arriving in England, Stefaniia has begun training again at Bramhall Lane Lawn Tennis Club and as such needed a new racket.

The Everybody Foundation bought Stefaniia a brand new ‘Extreme MP Tennis Racket 2022’ as she needed a heavier racket now that she is older.

Yuliia Ukrainets, mum of Stefaniia, shared:

“Thank you very much to the Everybody Foundation, the tennis racket is great. Stefaniia is very glad and she now enjoys playing tennis.”

Pictured - L-R: Helena Banfield - Chair at Wilmslow Lightning Netball Club, Hannah Whitley Everybody Grants & Funding Lead, Nichola Foulkes England Netball Development Officer Cheshire, Paige Kindred - Head Coach at Wilmslow Lightning Netball Club.