AMATEUR sports clubs across the region have received a share of a quarter of a million pounds from Sirius Minerals.

The Sirius Minerals Foundation has given grants totalling £250,000 to improve the facilities of seven grass-roots sport clubs throughout the Teesside, East Cleveland and coastal North Yorkshire areas.

The capital grants of between £20,000 and £50,000 each are part of a drive by the charity to increase participation in amateur sports across the areas near to its polyhalite mining project.

It follows a £52,000 programme of smaller grants awarded to 56 clubs in September to purchase kit, equipment or invest in training.

The charity was set up by Sirius Minerals to share some of the economic benefits of the company’s multi-billion pound polyhalite mining project, which is being built in Whitby and Teesside.

The successful applicants were; Teesside Athletic FC Ltd, Redcar Town Football Club, New Marske Harriers Athletic Club, Whitby boxing and cricket clubs, Scalby Cricket Club and Scarborough Disabled Swimming Group.

The money is being put towards an assortment of projects for each club, ranging from upgrading lighting and sports equipment, to improving changing rooms and launching schemes to encourage new female members.

David Archer, chairman of the Foundation said: “It has always been important to us that the local area benefits as much as possible and amateur sports clubs are an important part of the social fabric of the area and can make such a positive difference to people, helping them lead healthier and more fulfilled lives.

“The Board was pleased to see a range of high-quality applications for a range of sports.

"During the very tough selection process, we made the decision to increase the original budget of £200,000 to almost £250,000.”

This was the third grant-giving programme launched by the Sirius Minerals Foundation.

The charity has already awarded over half a million pounds to projects throughout Redcar and Cleveland, Whitby, Scarborough and the North York Moors, for education and skills training, improving public spaces and facilities, health and wellbeing, environmental initiatives, and community building schemes.

The Foundation is currently utilising an initial £2m in start-up funds that it was awarded in 2017 by Sirius Minerals Plc, following the start of construction of its Woodsmith Mine near Whitby.

Longer term, the Foundation will be funded by a revenue royalty when polyhalite production begins.