A COMMUNITY club is bowled over after receiving a large support grant to help secure its future.

Haltwhistle Bowling Club has been awarded £1,150 of National Lottery funding from Sport England’s Community Emergency Fund towards the continual running costs during the on-going Covid-19 pandemic.

The outbreak of the virus and the consequent shutdown of businesses as of March 23 has left the sport and physical activity sector facing a period of uncertainty.

In response, on March 31, Sport England announced a £195m package to help the sport and physical activity sector through Covid-19. Within the package is a £20m Community Emergency Fund, of National Lottery money to deliver immediate funding to those who have a role in supporting the nation to be active but are experiencing short-term financial hardship or the ceasing of operations due to the impact of coronavirus.

The grant will allow Haltwhistle Bowling Club to exist over the coming months, as the green needs to be maintained even though play is limited. Ongoing costs include utilities, insurance and vital repairs to keep the club in a healthy position in the future.

Maurice Davidson, Hon Secretary, said: "This is a very welcomed grant and most generous, it will go a long way towards Haltwhistle Bowling Club’s survival for this season.

"But as everyone knows we do not know what the future has in-store, we hope some sort of normality returns for next season.”

Tim Hollingsworth, Sport England’s Chief Executive, said: “As the body responsible for the growth of sport and physical activity participation, we want the vital grassroots organisations that make sport and physical activity happen in this country to not just to come through this crisis but to be in a position to thrive again in the future.

"The £20m Community Emergency fund, made possible by National Lottery players is part of a multimillion pound package of support we are providing to ease the pressure on a huge number of the organisations who are central to the nation’s health and wellbeing.

“We are proud to be able to provide vital funding to Haltwhistle Bowling Club to help it through these extremely challenging times."