New sports facilities are a smash hit
A new publicly funded sports centre has proved a runaway success with local residents, schools, youth groups and sports clubs.
A gym, sports hall and other facilities were built as part of a multi million pound development of YMCA North Staffordshire and have been open to the public since late December.
“Part of the development plan was to provide easily accessible sports facilities for all and the new facilities have proved to be a major success.
“We are attracting people from the local community in Hanley and Shelton, schools and other groups from across North Staffordshire,” said Adrian Tilstone, Activities Centre Manager.
One major success story is in providing a place to train for cricketers in the winter.
The new sports hall has become a home for the Staffordshire Cricket Board who run sessions in the indoor nets for youth players. They have been joined by several local clubs including Sandyford, Silverdale, Endon and Meir Heath.
The sports hall has also been adopted as a base for the Stoke Spitfires Wheelchair Basketball squad and is also used for multi sports by local schools and youth clubs.
Local schools have also been among the first to take advantage of the centre’s 11-metre high climbing wall.
The YMCA has three football teams in local leagues – a ladies team, under 14 boys and under 10 boys.
Adrian added: “We are approaching 100 members for the gym and we know that many are from within the local community. This is important as Stoke-on-Trent has well known issues with health and fitness and we are ideally placed to help, close to the city centre yet surrounded by terraced housing in Hanley and Shelton.”
The YMCA also has a thriving boxing club and is home to the Staffordshire Amateur Boxing team.
“Our high quality new facilities and our links to sporting bodies such as Staffordshire Cricket and the County Boxing Association means that we can help anyone from absolute beginners to improving sportsmen and women,” said Adrian.
All the sports facilities including the gym can be used on a pay as you play basis. People can buy monthly gym memberships but there are no contract terms, which means that members are not tied in to paying for a gym membership they do not want.
The sports facilities are part of the new Youth Campus development which was funded through the myplace programme previously run by the Government Department of Children, Schools and Families with support from the Big Lottery Fund. Housing and Communities Agency, Stoke City Council and YMCA North Staffordshire.
To enquire about using the sports facilities contact Adrian Tilstone on 01782 222376.
