GreaterSport, the Greater Manchester Sports Partnership, has donated Decathlon vouchers to the value of £400 to the Great Britain Slowpitch Team after an approach by BSUK North West Coach Linni Mitchell.
The GB Slowpitch Team recently held the annual GB Open Tournament at Parrs Wood High School in Manchester to raise money for the squad. Almost £900 was raised, with GB Team members on hand to give tips and advice to the competing teams and to run coaching sessions and master classes throughout the day.
Money for clubs
Earlier this year, Sport England gave GreaterSport £12,000 to fund sports equipment for local clubs. GreaterSport invested this money in gift vouchers from the world's biggest sports retailer, Decathlon, and 60 x £200 Decathlon vouchers are now available for local sports teams to apply for to spend on equipment that can aid the development of their sport.
While hot-desking in the GreaterSport office, BSUK North West Coach Linni Mitchell became aware of the opportunity for clubs to apply and approached John Brady, NGB Development Officer at GreaterSport, about the possibility of donating some vouchers to the GB Slowpitch Team. John was happy to help out the national team and to further build the partnership between the GreaterSport and BSUK.
National team support
John Brady said “We are thrilled to be able to support our National Slowpitch Softball Team with this funding and we look forward to hearing how the vouchers have helped the development of the squad.”
Andy Grose, a member of the GB Development Squad who plays for Manchester Thunder, said: “We are really grateful to receive this massive gift card, and it will help the team a great deal.”
Softball clubs in Greater Manchester who wish to apply for Decathlon vouchers can do so by contacting John Brady on: johnb@greatersport.co.uk for an application form.