FIVE local sports projects in Devon have been awarded a share of over £370,000 worth of National Lottery funding to improve their tired facilities, it has been announced.

Sport England, in its continued investment in grassroots sport, has invested £10 million in 148 projects across England as part of the latest round of its Inspired Facilities fund – designed to breathe new life into community sports facilities that have become worn-down, expensive to run and difficult to maintain. The funding is also being used to convert existing buildings into venues that are more suitable for grassroots sport.

One project that will be transformed as a result of the funding is Stoke Gabriel Cricket Club. The club will receive £50,000 from Sport England to build a new fit-for-purpose clubhouse to replace the current semi-derelict building. It is hoped that the new facility will enhance the cricket and archery usage and will provide additional facilities to accommodate the formation of a bowls club – which would also have an alternative use for croquet - on the same sports ground.

Sport England’s Property Director, Charles Johnston, said: “The Inspired Facilities Fund has made a huge impact on grassroots sports since its inception, and remains one of our most popular funds. Since 2011, we have invested £94 million into 1,800 projects to improve and refurbish existing sports facilities all over the country.”

“This funding will create a long-lasting impact for these grassroots clubs and projects in Devon, and we are looking forward to seeing these facility improvements make a huge difference to their local communities, and to help more people to play sport.”

Minister for Sport Helen Grant said: “Having good sport facilities on people’s doorsteps is crucial to encourage more people to take up sport and get active. The latest £10 million investment of lottery money from the Inspired Facilities Fund will help improve and maintain grassroots sports clubs across the country, benefitting communities for generations to come.”

The latest Inspired Facilities awards compliments Sport England’s wider strategy of facility funding. Thirty-six projects across England were recently awarded a share of £12.5 million of National Lottery funding from the third round of the Improvement Fund, while so far Sport England has invested over £1 million into 271 projects as part of the flood relief fund to help get clubs up and running again after last year’s bad weather. To find out more about any of our funding programmes, visit http://www.sportengland.org/funding/ In order to make this hugely popular fund even easier to access, the Inspired Facilities fund is now an open programme which means projects can submit applications at a time convenient to them, rather than being restricted by a specific deadline. Awards will be made on a bi-annual basis. To find out more and apply, visit www.sportengland.org/inspiredfacilities.

Community and voluntary organisations are able to bid for grants of between £20,000 and £75,000, with other organisations such as councils and schools able to apply for grants of up to £150,000.