Sandwell Spikers Launch Volleyball in Sandwell

Sandwell residents will soon be able to try their hand at volleyball thanks to Sport England National Lottery funding.

Sandwell Spikers Volleyball Club is a new club, set up by a group of likeminded individuals, a group of friends coming together with a common goal – to bring volleyball to Sandwell.

The club will be creating opportunities for women and junior players to get involved in volleyball.  A new satellite club will be established at George Salter Academy and coaches and referees will be trained to deliver the new sessions.

These new sporting opportunities have been made possible by a £10,000 grant from Sport England – which is working with local communities to get people playing more sport. The club has also received support from Volleyball England.

Rob Payne, Volleyball England Relationship Manager, said:

"I am delighted that Sandwell Spikers have been awarded funding from the Sport England Small Grants fund.  A lot of hard work has gone in from the club to constitute itself, appoint a committee and produce a vision that can now become a reality.  This is also a great boost for Sandwell (a previously un-touched area for volleyball) as the funding will provide all the support required to establish a new West Midlands Regional League team, a new junior section through George Salter Academy links and a women's section".

Ketan Patel, Club Chairman, Sandwell Spikers Volleyball Club, said:

"This is fantastic news not just for Sandwell Spikers Volleyball Club, but for the whole area, we can really try to put volleyball on the map in Sandwell.  The funding award from Sport England will go a long way in helping to establish Sandwell Spikers and give us the impetus and support we need to promote volleyball.  Everyone at the club is really excited about this new venture and we are looking forward to playing volleyball for a long time to come.  With this award we also can cement our link with George Salter Academy and hopefully get lots of Juniors and Women involved in Volleyball in Sandwell.  On behalf of Sandwell Spikers I would like to express our gratitude to Volleyball England who were really helpful with the application and without whom we would not have won this award and to Sport England for granting us funding"

Sport England invests National Lottery funding in projects that will grow and sustain participation in grassroots sport and create opportunities for people to excel at their chosen sport.

Simon Hall, Director of the Black Country BeActive Partnership, said:

"The opportunity to try a new sport for the first time is often all a person needs to catch the sporting bug. The new sessions at Sandwell Spikers Volleyball Club are a great way for people to try volleyball and get a quality sporting experience that will encourage them to stay involved.  I congratulate the club on their successful funding bid and look forward to seeing the results”

- ENDS -

Note to editors:

Sandwell Spikers Volleyball Club has received £10,000 of National Lottery funding from Sport England’s Small Grants Programme.

Sandwell Spikers Volleyball Club will use the funding to
• Develop a satellite club at George Salter Academy
• To introduce Go Spike sessions for women only
• To develop a junior section at the club
• To start up a West Midlands Regional League team and
• To train 8 new coaches and 6 referees.

For more information, please contact Rob Payne on 07595 022516

Press release issued by: Joanne Taylor, Black Country Consortium Ltd, joanne_taylor@blackcountryconsortium.co.uk 07984 347837 / 01384 471139

Volleyball England
Volleyball England is the recognised National Governing Body for Volleyball, Beach Volleyball and Sitting Volleyball in England. Volleyball England is responsible for the development, promotion and delivery of Volleyball across England.

For more information, please contact Rob Payne on 07595 022516 or visit www.volleyballengland.org

Black Country BeActive Partnership
The Black Country BeActive Partnership is one of 49 County Sports Partnerships (CSPs) in England working to provide opportunities for people to participate in sport and physical activity across the Black Country.   The team and its partners aim to work together for all in the Black Country through PE, Sport and Physical Activity to inspire a generation to be active.
For more details on the work of the Black Country BeActive Partnership please contact Simon Hall, Partnership Director on 01384 471136 or visit www.blackcountrybeactive.co.uk