6 April 2022
Alok Sharma MP welcomes multi-sport grassroots facilities funding for Denefield School

Alok Sharma, the Member of Parliament for Reading West, has welcomed the announcement of new funding for the refurbishment of a floodlit 3G football pitch at Denefield School, in his constituency.

Denefield School

In the Spring Budget in March 2021, the Chancellor of the Exchequer committed to invest £25m to upgrade and improve grassroots facilities in communities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This programme was expanded in the Spending Review, with £205m committed UK-wide between 2022 and 2025.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport has been working closely with the Football Associations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and the Football Foundation in England, who have selected a mixture of projects for funding. These projects will deliver improved facilities in the areas that need them most, support multi-sport use and increase participation among currently under-represented groups; in particular women and girls, disabled players and those in deprived areas.

Denefield School, a coeducational secondary school located in Tilehurst, will benefit from £417,571 of investment from this multi-sports grassroots facilities programme. The funding will enable a floodlit 3G football pitch to be refurbished, supporting high quality training and match play facilities for the partner clubs: Westwood Wanderers FC (21 teams) and Barton Rovers FC (22 teams). The site also supports disability football through the Brookfields School and Sport in Mind. Both the school and West Berkshire Council have provided funding.

Alok said:

“I am delighted to learn that Denefield School will receive £417,571 from the Football Foundation, including contributions from SportEngland, the Premier League, and the English FA, to help refurbish its floodlit 3G football pitch. Sport has a significant positive role to play in our local community, and I am glad to see this being recognised through the grant.”

Nigel Huddleston MP, Minister for Sport, Tourism, Heritage and Civil Society, said:

“Combined with partner funding from clubs, local authorities, and the English FA and Premier League in England, the programme will ensure more people can enjoy exercising and playing sport in their local area. It marks a first step in delivering the pitches every community needs over the next decade, levelling up all corners of the UK.”