Award to Weymouth sports club to improve facilities

Castle Cove Sailing Club from the water © Colin Work / www.pixstel.com

Castle Cove Sailing Club in Weymouth has been granted £75,000 by Sport England to improve their changing room and shower facilities.

The club, situated on the north shore of Portland Harbour, is increasingly in demand as a venue for national events, creating a need for better facilities. The changes will make the ladies' showers all cubicles, add some cubicles to the men's area, and provide more space. A family/accessible changing and shower room will also be added. The upgrade will be completed for the 2017 season.

Commodore Stephen Green said "Youngsters, in particular, value their privacy and these changes address that. Those who have been reluctant to shower after sailing in cold conditions will now be able to warm up quickly. Several class associations who have held their major events at Castle Cove have supported our grant application. The changes will also allow us to increase membership.

We try to do as much as we can ourselves to keep fees down for members, but this was beyond our capability because of the type of construction of the building. We have spent £400,000 and many volunteer man-hours in the last 5 years improving facilities, and we welcome this help to further the improvements."

Sport England property director, Charles Johnston, said: "The Inspired Facilities fund is a helping hand to thousands of community sports projects across the country. No club is immune to wear and tear, and this fund recognises the tremendous work they do in helping local people keep active."