Ebbw Vale Junior Badminton Club’s ‘Adopt a Racket Scheme’ Keeps Children Active During Pandemic

Up and down Wales, clubs, coaches and volunteers have been supporting their communities during the tough months of the pandemic.

This week sees the launch of the National Lottery ‘Dedicated To…’ campaign, where local clubs and volunteers are recognised for all of their hard work and are encouraged to share their inspirational stories.

Many clubs in Blaenau Gwent have worked tirelessly to ensure opportunities are still there for people to remain active this year and once this pandemic is over.  One such club is Ebbw Vale Junior Badminton Club, who have launched an ‘adopt a racket’ scheme.

 

The club has received National Lottery funding from the Sport Wales Be Active Wales Fund to help it reopen safely. Asked if it operates in an area of deprivation, Club Secretary Louise Crump replied: “We could not run the club just for the children who own rackets so we have allocated each child one. The £700 of National Lottery funding has been invested into brand new grips for each racket. The children are given the responsibility of taking them home and bringing them back to each session. It ensures no cross-contamination and the children are excited to look after them!”

The club has also been able to purchase PPE and cleaning equipment. It is also awaiting delivery of brand new shuttles.

“We also have juniors with ADHD and diabetes and they have been so excited to come back to training. We realised early on that we could not ensure Covid safety if we ran our sessions in the same way as we did previously. Lots of the children don’t own rackets and they would normally just pick one up, pop it down mid-session and pick up another whenever next needed.

“We are based at Ebbw Vale Sports Centre and they have been marvellous. Before opening, we did walk throughs and risk assessments. We have created one-way systems by each court, we have a chair that is sanitised before and after each session and that’s where the parents sit.”

With the help of National Lottery funding, thousands of grassroots sports workers and volunteers from local clubs and organisations across the UK, have been be able to continue to help the nation to remain active, happy and motivated during the Covid-19 pandemic.  This includes clubs in Blaenau Gwent who have shared £40,876 in funding thanks to the Be Active Wales fund.

 

Thanks to National Lottery players, £30 million is raised every week for good causes, many of which are supporting the most vulnerable in our communities across the UK during the Coronavirus crisis.