Maria Miller, MP for Basingstoke and Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, has welcomed the news that Basingstoke and District Sports Trust has been awarded £50,000 from the Sport England Inspired Facilities programme. This programme, which is part of the Government’s Olympic and Paralympic legacy programme, focuses specifically on investment to improve local facilities. Every sports facility that receives funding will carry the London 2012 Inspire mark – celebrating the link to the Games.

The Sports Trust will be funding a further £50,000, and they plan to use the funds to refurbish changing facilities at the Sports Centre in Festival Place.

Maria said: “It is fantastic news that the Basingstoke and District Sports Trust will be part of the Olympic legacy with Sport England’s Inspired Facilities programme. The new funding will enable the Sports Centre to further improve their facilities, and help them to attract more people in Basingstoke into taking up sports.”

“An important part of the London 2012 legacy is to get more people involved in sport and this funding represents a great boost to our local facilities in Basingstoke. Coming a year on from hosting the London 2012 Games, it shows that up and down the country more and more people are benefitting from the Government’s commitment to a long lasting sports legacy.”