Purpose

Authorisation to Release Funds from the Communities Spark
Fund - December 2023

Decision

That the following Spark fund grant awards totalling
£1000 are approved:

·       
Thorpe Woodlands Adventure Centre
Trust - £500 towards
developing the toddler group area further by purchasing more play
equipment. They recently opened an outdoor
toddler group which runs on a Monday and Thursday.  The toddler group enables children aged 0-5 to
play outdoors in a safe and secure environment.  Parents meet informally and build relationships
with one another. They have been talking
to other organisations and local schools and there is a lack of
outdoor play opportunities for all young people - particularly in
early years.  They ran an open event and
surveyed all those who attended.  The
responses showed that there was a need and for earlier years
provision locally.
 

·        
Attleborough Boxing Club - £500 to fund an initiative with Attleborough Academy
After School Sessions, to offer the opportunity for fitness and
wellbeing at the Academy for pupils who would like to engage in
this kind of activity. For example, non-contact amateur boxing to
promote self-respect, discipline, team building & individual
challenges, with the opportunity of progression to join a
nationally recognised and accredited boxing club and to pursue
competitive opportunities nationally and internationally. These
will be run weekly for 1 hour after school by a qualified coach.
This will be open to all pupils. ABC have
been engaging with the Academy for the last year and presented to
an assembly. This was followed up by a poll whereby pupils agreed
that they would like to engage in this kind of activity. Streetbox,
which has been running on the streets of Attleborough, has proved
very popular however the feeling is that a warm, space inside may
be more appropriate for the harder to reach pupils. The school are
very keen to start this in January, Dave Pickering is fully on
board with this project as the Head teacher.