TENS of thousands of pound will be used to be the ‘catalyst’ for a new football facility in Barrow in a bid to tackle ‘inequalities in participation’.

Members of Furness locality board granted £59,891 to go towards delivering new or refurbished outdoor mini pitches designed for football and other sports in the Central ward.

This is part of a new football foundation scheme called PlayZones Programme which uses investment from the Premier League, the FA and the government.

The report prepared for the board says: “The PlayZone Programme is their exciting new investment programme aimed at tackling inequalities in physical activity and access to facilities by funding community-led spaces.”

The site, design and facilities will be determined through working with the community in the Central ward area, the report adds.

Councillor Ben Shirely (Dalton North, Conservative) asked the board to consider the creation of a Furness Football Foundation ‘so we can seize the opportunity’ of investment from the Football Foundation into the locality.

Councillor Niyall Phillips (Hawcoat and Newbarns, Conservative) added the potential football foundation facility would be a ‘much needed addition’ to the area and said the pitches at Pulse at Barrow Park are still being ‘actively refurbished’.

The Football Foundation estimates the cost of each facility depends on various factors including specification and site conditions. They estimate a new build facility will cost around £225,000.

According to the report, the programme requires partnership funding and are looking for a minimum contribution of 25 per cent of the total capital cost. The community development team has submitted an expression of interest which has been successful.

The report adds: “In order to support the project with the 25% partnership funding and based on an estimated £225k funding members are asked to commit £59,891.

“The funding from the Locality Board and Football Foundation should be the catalyst to draw down additional funding from other funding partners should it be required towards the build cost. Active Cumbria would be able to ‘hold and ringfence’ the funding for the project.”

According to the report, the Playzone Programme aims to focus investment and resource into communities with the ‘greatest need’.

The report adds: “This will deliver new or refurbished outdoor mini pitches designed for football and other sports and activities that will allow priority groups to be more active.

“There are four main groups facing the greatest inequalities the Football Foundation want prioritisation with these groups; lower socio economic, women and girls, disabled people and people with long-term health conditions and ethnically diverse groups to provide opportunity and access to safe, inclusive, and welcoming facilities.”

Members of Furness Locality Board approved the funding on March 19 at Barrow Town Hall.