Emergency grants for Seaton sporting clubs

Three local organisations have received grants from Sport England to help them through the coronavirus crisis.

Seaton Cricket Club has received £4,495, Axe Cliff Golf Club in Seaton will benefit from £8,500, and the Axe Valley Swimming Association, which runs the Flamingo Pool in Axminster, has received an £8,800 grant to help with expenses.

Steve Buxton, manager of the Flamingo Pool, now in its 22nd year, said they were delighted to have been awarded the grant.

The £8,800 grant from Sport England's Community Emergency Fund will cover one month's cost of water, gas and electricity.

The pool has been closed throughout lockdown and association members are meeting tomorrow (Thursday) to consider advice from the government concerning reopening of the pool.

Mr Buxton said: "We do not know when we will be allowed to open yet. The number of people using the pool will be vastly reduced. It's going to be very difficult."

The Flaming Pool is a registered charity and depends heavily on fundraising and donations, especially from the Axe Valley Show which was originally launched to raise money for the pool.

Last year the show raised £30,000 for local good causes, including the pool, but this year's event was cancelled due to COVID-19.

The community emergency fund was put in place to deliver immediate funding to those sports organisations most in need.