GRASSROOTS sports clubs and teams across the Region have been awarded special grants to enhance their offerings thanks to a joint campaign from Liverpool ONE and The Guide Liverpool. 
 
Now in its 2nd year, the Sport Grant Programme invited local clubs to apply for funding, with 6 groups each receiving £500 to help with the cost of kit, equipment, and traveling.  
 
The winning teams and sport clubs awarded with grants are:-  

• Mersey Rowing Club from Liverpool 
• Vortex Cheer from Sefton 
• Hurricanes U9s Bleakhill Girls Football Team from St Helens 
• Pex Hill Pulse U13s Football Club from Halton 
• Victoria Colts Pumas U11s Junior Football Club from the Wirral 
• Chester Hockey Club 

 
Among the winners is Southport-based cheerleading squad Vortex Cheer, a club offering cheerleading, gymnastics and dance across Sefton and beyond.  
 
Aime Cruickshank, who runs Vortex Cheer, said:- “This grant will enable us to purchase essential equipment for our new cheer gym, helping us to create a welcoming, inspiring space for every athlete. With this funding, we can truly make the gym our own and provide the best possible environment for our team to grow, achieve and shine.” 
 
Also planning to use their grant to invest in new equipment for their teams are Hurricanes U9s Bleakhill Girls Football Team and Mersey Rowing Club. 
 
Victoria Colts Pumas U11s Junior Football Club and St Helens-based Hurricanes U9s Bleakhill Girls Football Team plan to purchase new kits for their teams. 
 
Plus, Chester Hockey Club looks forward to using its grant to supercharge outreach for its unique inter-club gaming system, “Animal Magic”, which sees primary school age players take part in fun, fast-paced games on Saturday evenings and dedicated high-quality coaching on Sundays.  
 
The programme helps children enjoying the thrill of competition, building skills and creating a clear pathway from 1st touch to elite performance. 
 
Donna Howitt, Place Strategy Director at Liverpool ONE, said:- “Once again, we are so pleased to see the overwhelming response to this grant giveaway having received more than 250 applications from grassroots sports clubs and teams right across the Region. Supporting and nurturing young sporting talent is something we’re incredibly passionate about at Liverpool ONE, and we’re proud to be able to lend a hand to them developing members’ skills. We have received five times more application this year and we have heard so many inspirational stories about incredible sporting organisations of all sizes, highlighting just how rich our Region is in talent. A huge congratulations to the 6 chosen teams and thank you to all who entered. It is wonderful to see and support such an array of young talent and future sporting stars right here in our local community.” 
 
Jay Hynd, Director and Presenter at The Guide Liverpool, said:- “Following last year’s successful launch, we at The Guide Liverpool are delighted to have been able to join forces with Liverpool ONE once again, to recognise and support rising sports stars from across the Region.” 
 
For more information about Liverpool ONE, visit their website.