Mid Sussex MP and former Sports Minister Mims Davies welcomes today’s announcement by the Government to invest £300 million this winter to help spectator sports in England. Support will be provided to rugby union, horse racing, women’s football and the lower tiers of the National League football. Rugby league, motorsport, tennis, netball, basketball, ice hockey, badminton and greyhound racing are also in line to benefit.
Mims Davies comments:
“This is wonderful news for many grassroots sports who help find the stars of the future and help keep our kids fit and active. This new funding is on top of previous investment by the Government during the pandemic and comes at a critical point for all kinds of sports which have experienced a devastating year. As former Sports Minister and proud President of Haywards Heath Rugby Football Club, and an avid runner myself, I believe this investment to be a true lifeline to so many of us who are active participants in sports and also to those who follow spectator sports”.
Mark Newey, Chairman HHRFC comments:
“With no income-generating activities in sight for the Club this is certainly going to be a challenging season and we will need all the support we can get. We are keen to get local competitive ‘cluster’ fixtures live early in the new year for our senior teams and it’s vitally important for the health and wellbeing of our 450+ youth members in Mid Sussex that rugby training is allowed to return as soon as possible using the strict Covid-safe protocols we have had in place since July.”
Oliver Dowden, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, said:
“Sports clubs are the beating hearts of their communities, and this £300 million boost will help them survive this difficult winter period”.
End.
Notes to Editors:
For more details of this latest announcement: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-announces-300-million-sport-winter-survival-package-to-help-spectator-sports-in-england