A SPORTS club bringing the community together will make improvements to its hilltop HQ after winning a £6,500 grant from Barnsley Council.
Ingbirchworth Pétanque Club was one of the successful applicants to the Council’s Pride of Place Fund.
Almost £100,000 worth of Pride of Place funding was awarded to community groups and organisations in Barnsley.
The club was founded in September 2023. It has more than 40 members, who meet twice a week to play the sport of pétanque, which is similar to the game of boules.
The club will use the grant to build a new all-weather shelter for spectators and the storage of equipment. There will also be landscaping around their playing “terrains”.
Members hope this will attract more people from the village and beyond to join the club and enjoy the sport.
David Karle, chairman of Ingbirchworth Pétanque Club, said club members had been “over the moon” to hear they had secured the Pride of Place grant to spend on a shelter and landscaping.
He said: “The funding will also enable non-playing members of our village to come up, sit and watch people playing the game of pétanque and get involved in the full social experience of the club sessions.
“Pétanque is a great social sport, quite a simple sport to play, and it's a fun game to be played by any age group, from children all the way up to people in their 90s.”
The Pride of Place Fund has a vision to empower local communities and enhance their environment. We received an overwhelming response from groups showcasing innovative projects aimed at fostering social and economic benefits.
We announced on 14 March that 11 groups and organisations had successfully bid for funding. This will be used to maintain and improve heritage buildings, support local residents, improve services and help communities to become more connected.
The Pride of Place Fund set aside investments from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which is backed by the UK Government's commitment to the Levelling Up agenda,
The initiative seeks to drive positive change by investing in heritage assets, green spaces, community centres and events.
Cllr Wendy Cain, Cabinet Spokesperson for Public Health and Communities, said: “We are delighted to support Ingbirchworth Pétanque Club and our other successful Pride of Place applicants. They are all making a positive difference in their local areas.
“The Pride of Place Fund is a great opportunity to showcase the spirit and of our communities and help them achieve their goals.
“I look forward to seeing the outcomes of these projects and the benefits they will bring to the residents of Barnsley.”
