The Grimsby Ancient Mariners in the Grimsby and Cleethorpes area has been awarded £300 of National Lottery funding from Sport England’s Community Emergency Fund towards starting up costs including the use of the facilities at the Bradley Development Centre, Grimsby during the on-going COVID-19 pandemic.

The outbreak of the virus and the consequent shutdown of businesses as of March 23 has left the sport and physical activity sector facing a period of uncertainty.

In response, on March 31 Sport England announced a £195m package to help the sport and physical activity sector through COVID-19. Within the package is a £20m Community Emergency Fund, of National Lottery money to deliver immediate funding to those who have a role in supporting the nation to be active but are experiencing short-term financial hardship or the ceasing of operations due to the impact of coronavirus.

The grant will allow the Grimsby Ancient Mariners to continue providing regular football sessions for the over 55 age group and this grant will enable us to restart, when allowed, almost immediately.

Tim Hollingsworth, Sport England’s Chief Executive, said: “As the body responsible for the growth of sport and physical activity participation, we want the vital grassroots organisations that make sport and physical activity happen in this country to not just to come through this crisis but to be in a position to thrive again in the future. The £20m Community Emergency fund, made possible by National Lottery players is part of a multimillion-pound package of support we are providing to ease the pressure on a huge number of the organisations who are central to the nation’s health and wellbeing.

“We are proud to be able to provide vital funding to the Grimsby Ancient Mariners WFC to help it through these extremely challenging times.”