Giles Watling, MP for Clacton, has welcomed the news that Kids Run Free, an organisation aiming to help young children become healthier and happier, has received £8,070 of funding towards its running programmes, thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
The Marathon Kids running programme will be delivered in five schools in the Tendring area, encouraging pupils to take part in regular running activities as part of the school curriculum. Run by local volunteers, the programme also includes two Park Kids projects that provide free running events for children in parks at the weekend. Together, the programmes aim to engage children of all ages and abilities, and their families, in physical activity and healthy lifestyles.
The funding comes from Postcode Community Trust, a grant giving charity funded by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. Last year, more than £8 million raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery was distributed to grassroots projects across Britain.
The next opportunity for local charities and good causes to apply for funding will be in August 2020. Funding is available through three trusts, with each supporting projects focused on different themes. Those interested in local funding opportunities can find out more by visiting the trusts’ websites.
Learn more about Kids Run Free here.
Katherine Sellar, Community Programmes Advisor at People’s Postcode Lottery said:
“Playing the People’s Postcode Lottery is a win all round. As well as our players winning some amazing prizes, local charities and causes are benefiting too.
“Thanks to our players, the funding raised is having a hugely positive impact on communities up and down Britain. This recent funding for Kids Run Free is going to help give so many children the chance to become active and take part in some exciting events with their friends.”
Giles said:
“The roll-out of this programme to more schools in the community is just fantastic. The link between physical and mental health is extremely important, so it’s vital we encourage people to get healthy from a young age. When I was a child in the 50s and 60s, it was a given that we could run free. But as a nation we seem to have lost that habit, so let’s get it back!
“And a huge thank you to the players of People’s Postcode Lottery who have helped support this funding. I hope the pupils really get stuck into their new running routines, and I can’t wait to hear how they got on.”