Member Article

Official opening of new clubhouse at Belper Meadows Community Sports Club

Belper Meadows Community Sports Club has officially opened its new multi-use clubhouse - with the help of a few special guests.

Robert Kirkland, director of Bowmer & Kirkland, cut the ribbon to declare the new clubhouse open, along with Jane Morris, who was representing her late husband John, who was the driving force behind the project.

John Morris was treasurer and development officer for the club for more than 15 years and played a key role in getting the project off the ground before he sadly passed away in January, before the clubhouse was completed.

The official opening took place after a full day of sporting events, including men’s and women’s hockey and some social tennis. At the event, sponsors, supporters, members, friends and family enjoyed refreshments on the new spectacular balcony that overlooks the sporting areas.

A multi-sport, volunteer-run amateur club, Belper Meadows Community Sports Club encourages people of all ages to get involved in tennis, cricket, bowls and hockey and is totally self-funded.

The project has been completed in two phases. Phase one, which was completed in January 2018, involved the construction of a two-storey building and the fit out of the lower storey. A date stone, which was donated by Amber Pre-Cast, was laid above the front door of the new pavilion. Phase two, which was completed at the end of June, included the fit-out of the upper storey.

The new pavilion includes four changing rooms with showers and toilets, a clubroom and disabled access in a building adjacent to the bowls, tennis and hockey playing surfaces. This replaces the former wooden pavilion, which was more than 100 years old.

The project was led by Derby-based contractors Carter Construction and leading project managers, cost consultants and building surveyors Armsons.

Kath Hoult, Chair of the Belper Community Sports Club said:

“The club and community have worked really hard, over many, many years and to finally have a clubhouse we can be proud of is fantastic.

“The new clubhouse will only help the club thrive, especially with the facilities for multi sports that transcends across all ages.”

Sally Walters, director at Armsons, added:

“We’re delighted to have been involved in this fantastic project, which is set to benefit the whole community.

“It’s been incredibly rewarding to work on a project that will provide sports facilities for people of all ages. Massive congratulations to everyone involved for their hard work and determination in raising the funds needed to create this fabulous facility.”

The project, in partnership with Sport England, has been financed by a public fundraising campaign and grants from a number of bodies including Amber Valley Borough Council, Garfield Weston Foundation, Vaillant UK, Co-op Community Fund, Derbyshire Environmental Trust and Belper Town Council.

The Big Lottery Fund supported the project in the form of a £10,000 grant towards phase two of the build, which provided block partitions, drylining partitions and plaster for the walls. Support has also come from the Mayor of Belper, Tim Sutton, and Councillor Peter Makin representing Derbyshire County Council.

Last year the club launched a ‘Buy a Brick’ scheme - which provides the chance to purchase a personalised virtual brick to contribute to the fundraising for the club.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Donna Hill .