Supporting a local netball club

News – 11 June 2021

Shefford Netball Club has a new storage facility at their new base, the Robert Bloomfield Academy (RBA), for all their kit and equipment thanks to local housing provider Grand Union Housing Group.

The Milton Keynes based housing association stepped in to help the club and provide funding for the storage container that will securely hold the club’s equipment on the school site.

Mary Hull, head coach to the club of over 100 members, said: “We’d raised funds and obtained all the necessary planning permission to have floodlights installed to the courts at RBA, so we can have training sessions and matches at one venue rather than splitting them between two sites, but we had no safe storage space for our kit.

“We’re delighted that Grand Union provided us with financial help to obtain the lockable container that can store our bibs, balls, posts and other equipment and that we’ve now got everything we need to welcome back our players.”

Sue Dance, Sales & Commercial Manager at Grand Union said: “Mary had seen our nearby development at Conifer Way and had approached us to see if we were able to help and we were only too happy to oblige.

“We’re pleased to support local community groups that promote sport and fitness to young people. Our Youth Involvement team supports a weekly after school football club, also at RBA, for young people aged 11 to 14 years which offers mentoring support afterwards for those who need it.

“Across the organisation we’re focused on building stronger communities, so supporting projects like these develops great relationships and provides opportunities for young people and adults to participate in sporting activities.”

Shefford Netball Club has been running for around 15 years and welcomes players from year 5 up to adults. Members are from Shefford and the surrounding villages and play in local leagues all year round.

Mary added: “We’ve finally been able to bring the club fully back into Shefford with the Academy being our home, but we couldn’t have done this without Grand Union’s support.”