By KLTV Newsdesk
Holmfirth Civic Hall Community Trust has been awarded £3000 of National Lottery funding from Sport England’s Community Emergency Fund towards its running costs during the on-going COVID- 19 pandemic.
The outbreak of the virus and the consequent shutdown of businesses as of 23rd March 2020 has left the sport and physical activity sector facing a period of uncertainty.
In response, on 31st March 2020 Sport England announced a £195m package to help the sport and physical activity sector through COVID-19.
Within the package is a £20m Community Emergency Fund, of National Lottery money to deliver immediate funding to those who have a role in supporting the nation to be active but are experiencing short-term financial hardship or the ceasing of operations due to the impact of coronavirus.
Judith Patrick, Holmfirth Civic Hall Chairman, said: “The grant will provide much-needed funds – even with the Hall closed there are ongoing costs which need to be covered and with no income coming in the future Hall is in jeopardy.
“We want to be in a position to continue our work on securing the long term future of the Hall once some of the lockdown measures are lifted.
“But with costs still being incurred whilst the doors are closed, funds such as this are vital to support us in that aim.”
Tim Hollingsworth, Sport England’s Chief Executive, said: “As the body responsible for the growth of sport and physical activity participation, we want the vital grassroots organisations that make sport and physical activity happen in this country to not just to come through this crisis but to be in a position to thrive again in the future.
“The £20m Community Emergency fund, made possible by National Lottery players, is part of a multimillion-pound package of support we are providing to ease the pressure on a huge number of the organisations that are central to the nation’s health and wellbeing.
“We are proud to be able to provide vital funding to Holmfirth Civic Hall Community Trust to help it through these extremely challenging times.”