LEAMINGTON Netball Club volunteers are hoping to get financial backing to create their own mini centre of excellence.
The project to build a new courtside coaching centre with mentoring area, kitchen, storage area and toilets will cost in excess of £85,000.
The club, which is based at Leamington Rugby Club, has already raised £17,000 through their own endeavours in just five months and now they have applied for helping hand grants.
They have asked for £30,000 from Warwick District Council, with a decision expected in February, and for £50,000 from the Biffa Award community initiative, with a verdict due in January.
The project already has planning consent because it will be replacing the old wooden structure they currently use.
Club chairman Jan Thomas said the new building would be a huge catalyst in allowing the club, which already has six senior teams and eight junior teams, to grow and nurture new players and officials.
“The basic building will cost around £70,00 but then there will be extra money to equip it and fit it out,” she said.
“At the moment, we’ve got an old timekeeper’s hut that was donated to us by Warwick university 17-18 years ago. It was leaking then and now it’s so damp we’re growing mushrooms!
“It’s coming to the end of its days and a new building would be fantastic.
“Hopefully we can get the grants, or a share of them, but if we don’t it will mean we will work even harder on our fundraising.”
The scheme also has the backing of Netball England to increase participation and it would also allow more schools to use the facilities.
Tim Wells, one of the juniors’ dads, cycled from Lymington in Hampshire to Leamington over two days – a total of 140 miles in one fundraising event.
Tim’s wife Nicky was driving the support vehicle and to celebrate his homecoming a number of junior and senior players enjoyed a friendly game of netball and other supporters enjoyed mulled wine and mince pies.
Mr Wells has created an online fundraising account – http://fnd.us/c/e14375/sh/75I760 – and in just one week the total has exceeded £1,000. The site will stay open until December 31 for more donations.
