Worcester Arena Gets £1.5m Cash Boost from Sport England
Wednesday, 23 November 2011
The campaign to build the Worcester Arena has received a huge funding boost from Sport England.
The University of Worcester has been awarded £1.5m from Sport England’s Iconic Facilities Olympic legacy fund towards the development of this exciting new facility for the City.
The cheque was presented by Jeremy Hunt MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport during a visit to the University.
Professor David Green, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Worcester, said: “The Worcester Arena will provide outstanding new opportunities to engage in sport. Inclusive by design, we hope it will become ‘home from home’ for many athletes with a mobility impairment.
“We are delighted that Sport England has chosen to make this coveted £1.5 million Iconic Facilities award to the Worcester Arena. The University will ensure that this funding and facility is imaginatively used to promote sport, inclusion and education.”
The Worcester Arena will be built on the site of the former fruit and veg market, on Hylton Road, Worcester, next year. It will be a highly inclusive centre that will benefit the wider community in Herefordshire and Worcestershire and will provide a nationally outstanding venue for disability sport.
As well as the Sport England donation, the campaign has already won several significant grants and financial support from national sports governing bodies, charities and trusts, including £250,000 from The Trustees of the Foundation for Sport and the Arts, £375,000 from England Basketball, £200,000 from England Badminton and £25,000 from Herefordshire philanthropist Clive Richards. More than £70,000 has also been raised from individual, family and team donations.
The University is hoping to announce further funding for the project at the end of the year.
Iconic Facilities is part of the £135 million Places People Play legacy programme that is bringing the magic of a home Olympic and Paralympic Games into communities across the country. Every sports facility that receives funding will carry the London 2012 Inspire mark – celebrating the link to the Games.
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