Earlier in 2020 Filey Town Council made £100,000 available in grants for sport and leisure organisations based in the town. After a large number of applications were shifted, the council announced the awarding of the first four grants. Totalling £55,093 the grants were went to: Filey Playing Fields Association; the Parish Centre at St. John’s Church; Active Filey; and Filey Southdene Bowling Club.

Filey Playing Fields Association received £25,000 which they will use to part-fund improvements to their changing facilities, in particular making the facilities suitable for females. This will mean that girls and ladies football and cricket teams will be able to be formed. Fabulous news for the town.

The Parish Centre at St. John’s Church got £24,429 which is being used to part-fund a complete refurbishment of the facility. Seventeen groups regularly use the centre and the grant funding will allow them more space to expand their activities. It is hoped the even more groups will be attracted to the West Avenue based centre. The facility is currently closed as the improvement works have already commenced, it is scheduled to reopen in December.

The group Active Filey were awarded £1,600 and it will be used to train running and cycling group leaders. The rapidly expanding group was founded in January. The Active Filey Cycling (formerly Filey Cycle Group) is a group, which doesn’t take cycling too seriously with rides that are as much about coffee and cake stops as cycling. You do not need all the latest gear to ride with the group – any working bike will do, though it is always recommended that you wear a helmet. The group simply wants people who fancy a social bike ride to join them and is always happy to welcome visitors who are on holiday in the area. The routes and pace are usually decided on the morning, based on who turns up.

Filey Southdene Bowling Club received £3,964, which will be used to improve the access paths around the club, which have deteriorated over the years. The improvement works will make bowling accessible to all.

It is wonderful to see local groups receiving vitally needed funds, especially in these strange times through which we are currently living. Well done to Filey Town Council, we look forward to reporting the next tranche of funding awards.