Community cash funds footballers

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 27th Dec 2007

A new football team for people with disabilities has received funding from the Cheltenham Strategic Partnership.

Local organisations were invited to apply for a share in a pot of money, available after the council tax discount was reduced on second homes.

The club - set up by Cheltenham Town FC - now has a full match programme with training at adult learning centres. It encourages social interaction among the players and promotes the importance of exercise and a healthy lifestyle.

Mike Cook, community development officer at Cheltenham Town Football Club said: "This project has been fantastic and we have achieved so much more than we ever expected. The project has opened the doors for so many young adults and even though we have stopped training now for Christmas, they are still meeting up socially which they wouldn't have done before."

The Cheltenham Junior Hockey Association was also successful in receiving money towards two new badgers hockey teams, aimed at recruiting players aged 12 to 16.

Other organisations to have received funding include: Prestbury and Pittville Youth, Cruse Bereavement Care, Vision 21, 24th Cheltenham (Leckhampton) Scout Group and Gloucester Rugby Club.