Lisburn BMX Club has been left feeling absolutely pumped after receiving a major £50,000 funding boost.
The Lambeg-based club will develop a state-of-the-art pump track after being presented with the significant grant from the Whitemountain Programme.
The new track will be open to both club members and the wider public all year round, and will be suitable for children as young as four years old. It will be used by competitors to warm up and by riders to practice fundamental BMX skills.
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It will also give beginners and their families the opportunity to get a taste of the BMX experience at a less challenging level to the adjoining race track.
George Gordon from Lisburn BMX Club said: "This is the third grant we've received from the Whitemountain Programme and without their support we'd never have been able to develop our facilities to this standard.
"We're really excited about having a pump track alongside our race track, and to being able to host competitions at a National and International level such as the qualifying rounds of the Red Bull UCI Pump Track World Championships."
Lisburn BMX Club was reformed in 2012 with the aim of re-introducing BMX cycling to Lisburn and the surrounding areas. Led by a committee of enthusiastic, hard-working volunteers who have a wealth of experience of local, regional and national BMX racing in Ireland, it currently has over 170 members.
Richard Rogers from Groundwork Northern Ireland added: "It's been great to see how this club has developed over the past six years and we have to pay tribute to all the dedicated volunteers who have made it so successful.
"Without them community sports facilities like this just wouldn't be possible, and we're really pleased to be able to help them develop one of the best BMX facilities in Ireland."
Breedon Ireland’s Whitemountain Programme provides funding for community amenity and biodiversity projects within 15 miles of Mullaghglass landill site through the Landfill Communities Fund.
To date over £8.5million has been allocated to almost 250 projects. These range from sports facilities to community halls, and from wildflower meadows to play areas.
Edward Kearney from the Whitemountain Programme said: "The Whitemountain Programme has invested over £8.5 million in community amenity and biodiversity projects since it was established in 2007. We can see the great work that Lisburn BMX Club is doing to provide a state of the art facility for young people and are delighted to be able to support this latest phase of their development.
"With the forthcoming closure of Mullaghglass landfill site there will only be two further rounds of funding, so please check out the fund guidelines and, if your project is eligible, we'd be delighted to receive an application."
How to apply
If you have a great community or biodiversity focused project which lies within the 15 mile radius of Mullaghglass landfill site near Lisburn (and within 10 miles of a licensed landfill site), then you can apply. The programme is currently open for applications.
To find out more visit www.groundwork.org.uk/whitemountain or contact Whitemountain at whitemountainprogramme@groundworkni.co.uk
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