Sir Edward Garnier, MP for Harborough, Oadby and Wigston today welcomed a grant from the People’s Health Trust of £42,467 to the Youth Sport Trust. There are 51 local society lotteries behind the Health Lottery which have raised over £28 million for good causes. In the Harborough, Oadby and Wigston constituency, the local society lottery is called HealthBelief. HealthBelief works closely with the Health Lottery to decide how the money raised should be spent to address health inequalities locally.
Each week a different society gets a turn in choosing causes for money to be spent in.
HealthBelief chose to spend their money on The Youth Sport Trust, and a grant of £42,467 was awarded to them. This funding will support local primary and secondary schools in the area, to inspire less active, young people to experience new sporting activities, including badminton, boccia, fencing, handball, table tennis, volleyball and wheelchair basketball. Coaches will inspire young people that may be disadvantaged or disabled. Each coach works with 25 children.
The funding will enable the Youth Sport Trust to support 12 local schools, including South Wigston High School.
Commenting, Sir Edward said: “Following the Olympics, it is important for the next generation to be aware of the importance of sport and living healthily. I am glad that South Wigston High School in my constituency will have the opportunity to explore new sports; particularly for those youngsters that up to now may have been discouraged or unable to play certain sports. The grant will help them build their self-confidence and to develop a healthy lifestyle that will benefit them for the rest of their lives’.