County Councillors support the health, wellbeing and fitness of children and young families across Hertfordshire

Brookside Boys club - Free use of Astro turf twice a week for local youngsters

Michelle Vince (Borehamwood North, Hertsmere) has given Brookside Boys Club £2600 for one hour, twice a week, free access to the club Astro turf for football or any activities they choose. Brookside Boys Club has its own Astro turf pitch which is not often in use as the local youngsters don't have the money to rent it out. Unfortunately, the club isn’t able to let it be used for free. Children using the pitch will need supervision and the pitch has to be upkept as well as the cost of electricity to run the courts' floodlights during the winter evenings. Goals and balls also need to be supplied and maintained. The funding will enable the club to allow local youngsters and youths use of the Astro turf court free of charge. This will give the children something to do in the evenings and hopefully keep them off the streets. In time this activity will grow, and maybe bigger things will develop from this.

Councillor Michelle Vince of Hertfordshire County Council said: Brookside Boys Club is the jewel in the crown of Borehamwood North, it is situated in the most deprived area of Hertfordshire and provides the most amazing support, fun and exercise to the youth in our town. The use of the astro at no charge will men no youngster will be excluded because they can’t afford to pay. The youngsters will have an enjoyable activity and will I believe help with boredom and anti-social behaviour. i am delighted to support this great initiative.

Southfield School Friends Association - The purchase of scooters, skateboards & safety equipment

Marios Artemi (Welwyn Garden City South, Welwyn Hatfield) and Fiona Thomson (Handside and Peartree – Welwyn Hatfield) have both given grants of £500 to Southfields School Friends Association towards the purchase of scooters, skateboards and safety equipment in the support of daily physical activity for all pupils at Southfield School. Included within this sum would be the one-off delivery of training by Team Rubicon, who would visit the school to both teach the children how to use this equipment safely and to train staff at the same time in order that they can set up sessions for the children going forward.

For many of the pupils physical activity is curtailed as they may not be able to access local parks. For some, they never leave their family home unless they come to school. It is imperative, therefore, that the school provides as much physical activity as possible in their school environment for the benefits this brings to both our children’s physical, and equally important, emotional wellbeing.

This project is very important to the school and the purchase of these scooters, skateboards and safety equipment in addition to the onsite training to both teach the children how to use this equipment safely. It is also beneficial for training staff and the pupils would hugely benefit from the daily physical activity at Southfield School consequently and it would make a great and notably long-term impact on the children's physical and emotional wellbeing.

Councillor Marios Artemis of Hertfordshire County Council said: The purchase of these scooters, skateboards and safety equipment in addition to the onsite training to teach the children how to use this equipment safely would hugely benefit them in the support of daily physical activity at Southfield School. Consequently, it would make a great and notable, long-term impact on our community's children's physical and emotional wellbeing.

Councillor Fiona Thomson of Hertfordshire County Council said: I am very pleased to support this project which will support children attending the school to experience fun physical activities in a safe and inclusive setting, which they may not otherwise be able to access outside of the school as a result of their complex needs. The scooters, skateboards and safety equipment will support their physical activity and wellbeing, and the children will have the opportunity to experience similar activities that children in a mainstream setting would access.

Northchurch Tennis Club - Development of tennis facilities for local young families

Terry Douris (Bridgewater, Dacorum) has given a grant of £1000 to Northchurch Tennis club support the development of the facilities and to help attract new members, especially young families in the community. The projects will increase the life span of the court and facilities meaning they will be in good repair and maintained as such for many years to come. It is anticipated that potential new members will recognise that this is a safe playing environment, especially for young families, which will encourage them to join and get active, increasing their physical and mental wellbeing.

Councillor Terry Douris of Hertfordshire County Council said: Northchurch Tennis Club is committed to improving the facilities which will enable them to welcome new members especially younger people and families. I am delighted to support these aims thus providing a healthy and active sporting opportunity for all. The tennis club is a hidden gem and I am very pleased to help them develop using my Hertfordshire Members Grant.

St Ippolyts Primary School - Village Hall rental to facilitate Physical Education for school children

Councillor Richard Thake (Knebworth and Codicote, North Herts) has given a grant of £400 to help with rental costs for a local village hall to support physical education lessons for the children of St. Ippolyts Primary School.

The school hall is being used as two classrooms while its roof is replaced. Consequently, the school has no facility for PE. Renting the local Parish Hall helps to provide PE and extracurricular enrichment activities for the children.

In November, our school roof was deemed unsafe and in need of complete replacement. We had to evacuate two classes and set them up in a temporary classroom in the school hall. As a result, our school hall is out of use for its usual purpose and we cannot provide PE, gym or after school sports enrichments. Renting the village hall allows us to ensure that all children get at least one high quality session of physical activity during the winter months. All children from Reception to Y6 will benefit.

Councillor Richard Thake of Hertfordshire County Council said: Since 1847, this wonderful school has been supporting and educating the children of this community, Now, the school needs help in securing the fabric to continue the incredible work it does. This grant will help two vital local assets - the school and the village hall. I am very pleased to be able to help