ACTIVITIES and events designed to get people across Rother moving have received a welcome cash boost.

More than £14,000 worth of grants has been handed out by Active Rother – the district council’s partnership aimed at supporting people to become active.

The grants are part of the Workforce Project, a collaboration between Active Rother, Active Hastings, 3VA and Active Sussex, which aims to build the workforce needed to encourage more people of all ages to take part in physical activity.

A total of 25 clubs and individuals have received money to run events, activities and groups, ranging from tennis and football to Tai Chi and martial arts. The funding will also help individuals train to deliver classes for residents with back pain, coach people with disabilities and run cricket, cycling and running sessions.

Cllr Jay Brewerton, Rother District Council’s cabinet member for young people, sport and leisure, said: “With Rother having the highest levels of inactivity in Sussex, Active Rother is keen to encourage residents to take part in sport and physical activity.

“By joining forces with Active Sussex and supporting individuals, clubs and organisations, we hope residents will be given even more choice of activities that they can get involved in – whether they are eight or 80.

“We are grateful to Active Sussex for making money available and hope that it will help more Rother residents live a happier and healthier life.”

The funding, from Active Sussex, follows a study of inactivity in Rother to understand why the level of inactivity was so high in the district based on feedback from residents, coaches and those running clubs and activities.

Sadie Mason MBE, chief executive of Active Sussex  said: “We are delighted to continue to be able to invest in better understanding local people’s needs in our most inactive communities. Our priority is to make sure that we have the right workforce in place to motivate residents of all ages and abilities to take up physical activity and to sustain this over time.”

The grants, ranging from £60 to £1,300, are being used to train coaches and staff, hire venues, promote events and cover the costs of groups and clubs including Rye Runners, Hastings and Rother Triathlon Club, Sidley Walking Cricket Club, Bexhill Breathers and Bexhill Burners BMX Club.

A full list of grants can be found at www.activerother.org.uk/projects/the-workforce-project/

Videos created by Active Sussex about Rye Runner and Running Space can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_t5gVc8PKEU and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiI7TH3y22c&t=

Published: 4th February 2020