Batley junior rugby club in the money after £5,000 grant

Batley Young People’s Club has been handed £5,000 by the newly-merged charities William Henry Coulter Trust and Batley Sick Poor Fund, which have historically supported local causes.

Based at Batley Bulldogs’ ground at Mount Pleasant, coaches run junior teams for all ages and currently have over 200 boys and girls playing regularly with help from 50 adult volunteers.

Trustees chose the club after being impressed with their work to help children from all backgrounds enjoy the sport.

“The quality of the club’s application and the tremendous work they are doing with local youngsters made them a clear winner. They are to be commended on the way they are engaging with girls and boys of all ages and the dedication of the unpaid volunteers who run the club. The Coulter Trust is delighted to be able to help them continue and improve this valuable work,” said chair of trustees Mary Harkin.

Club secretary Sue Winner was delighted with the windfall, which will help cover the ever-increasing costs of running the club.

“This is fantastic. To keep going we have to raise every penny ourselves so it’s great that the Coulter Trust has awarded us this grant which will help us to improve our facilities. With our improved facilities we can involve more and more local youngsters. Running the club takes a lot of money. For example it costs £200 to properly train each of our coaches and £40 each for first aid and safeguarding training. This soon mounts up when you are running so many teams. It’s great that the Coulter Trust has recognised what we are doing.”

Local organisations wishing to apply for future grants can collect an information pack from Forest Burlinson on Owl Lane, Dewsbury.