Community Fields Project, Cheltenham North Rugby Football Club (CNRFC), Glos

This is a project to create a new 40m x 60m artificial playing surface from land that was previously agricultural land, creating a third pitch for Cheltenham North RFC. ECT is being approached to fund the drainage/top surface and astro turf to complete the Community Fields Project.

The need for local sports, health, and wellbeing facilities is growing; whether spectating, partaking, or supporting. The club has created welcoming facilities, open to all, year round, in a growing local population. Currently over 7,000 individuals visit and use the club. However, there are not enough of these facilities accessible to meet the need. With such a high volume of use the outdoor playing pitches get muddy, waterlogged, and worn in the wintertime. The club is struggling to meet needs and has to increase the playing surfaces by 100% to be sustainable.

The objective is to create a sports area for the community with a 3G surface and new flood lights, new grass playing fields, and a nature area for learning and participation. The club will plant trees, shrubs, and create a natural pond and wildlife environment that will be managed by the community. A large amount of groundworks have already been undertaken including levelling, removal of spoil and drainage, but the need is to finish the actual surfaces to make the playing fields. This includes drainage blanket and material, topsoil and the creation of a playing surface in pre-owned artificial covering.

This space will be unique to the area and will allow a significantly wider range of activities to take place on a regular basis without fear of cancellation due to weather conditions, providing further improved physical and mental health and wellbeing through a range of activities. The project would deliver a space that is safe, sustainable and benefits all, in a busy and growing community. The club would like to connect the benefits of physical activity in all forms with sense of belonging and ownership. Green spaces that will grow and improve wildlife and pond life, spaces that can be used for any activity 24/7 all year, and a hub that provides the community with a sustainable long-term environment, to put health and wellbeing through sport participation, nature and inclusion for all as the basis for success for decades to come.