Go Kids Go! winners revealed – as youth groups given £12k in cash for new projects

A total of 21 youth groups from in and around Weston have been given grants ranging from £200 to £1,800 thanks to Go Kids Go!

Budding gymnasts will soon be able to practise their technique on brand new equipment, air cadets will be able to sleep under canvas at camp and hundreds of children will benefit from new sports equipment because of grants from this year’s Go Kids Go! fund.

Go Kids Go! was set up by Weston Lions Club and the Mercury and is sponsored by local businesses each year. This year donations from the Grand Pier, Crosville, Howard Group, Mead Group, Nightingales, McDonald’s, Weston Carnival, Weston Town Council, Hobbs and Webb, and Weston College – in addition to contributions from the Lions and Mercury – meant £12,000 was dished out through the scheme, which is in its sixth year.

Malcolm Timmis, who heads up the project for the Lions, said: “The project was started to encourage young people to be more active in sports, arts, or community projects – indeed anything which would promote activity and social interaction.

The Go Kids Go! presentation. Picture: Eleanor Young (Image: Archant)

“We feel these skills, learned beyond the school gates, serve children well in later life, and make for better team players and more socially confident and rounded individuals.”

This year competition for Go Kids Go! cash was fierce, with a record number of entries at 58 groups.

The judges were able to whittle it down to 21 winners, and Malcolm said: “We would have liked to have given more but the judges had to select those which would do the most good for children in and around Weston.”

The winners were all presented with their cheques on the Beach Lawns on the Sunday of the Lions’ real ale and cider festival.

Our Way Our Say received a cheque at the Go Kids Go! presentation. Picture: Eleanor Young (Image: Archant)

Malcolm said: “It was a real joy to see some of the children who will benefit from this project.”

There is now hope to expand the scheme next year, and Malcolm said: “Our current sponsors have been very generous, but we do need more sponsors to enable us to expand. If you know anyone, please get in touch with the club or the Mercury.”

Team Mendip G&W Football received a cheque at the Go Kids Go! presentation. Picture: Eleanor Young (Image: Archant)

Weston Mendip District Guiding received a cheque at the Go Kids Go! presentation. Picture: Eleanor Young (Image: Archant)

Weston-super-Mare Operatic Society received a cheque at the Go Kids Go! presentation. Picture: Eleanor Young (Image: Archant)

Winscombe Rugby Club received a cheque at the Go Kids Go! presentation. Picture: Eleanor Young (Image: Archant)

Weston-super-Mare Swimming Club received a cheque at the Go Kids Go! presentation. Picture: Eleanor Young (Image: Archant)

209 Weston-super-Mare Squad, RAF Cadets received a cheque at the Go Kids Go! presentation. Picture: Eleanor Young (Image: Archant)

Act One Drama Group received a cheque at the Go Kids Go! presentation. Picture: Eleanor Young (Image: Archant)

MORE: In pictures: Revellers enjoy Weston Lions Club’s Real Ale and Cider Festival.

Friends of Aschombe Child Centre received a cheque at the Go Kids Go! presentation. Picture: Eleanor Young (Image: Archant)

Jackie Williams from Kewstoke Youth and Community Farm received a cheque at the Go Kids Go! presentation. Picture: Eleanor Young (Image: Archant)

Splitz Gymnastics Club received a cheque at the Go Kids Go! presentation. Picture: Eleanor Young (Image: Archant)

Corpus Christi Primary School received a cheque at the Go Kids Go! presentation. Picture: Eleanor Young (Image: Archant)

Locking Park Juniors Football Club received a cheque at the Go Kids Go! presentation. Picture: Eleanor Young (Image: Archant)

Weston-super-Mare Tennis Club received a cheque at the Go Kids Go! presentation. Picture: Eleanor Young (Image: Archant)

A representative from the Voyage Learning Campus received a cheque at the Go Kids Go! presentation. Picture: Eleanor Young (Image: Archant)

Weston Aerobics Gymnastics received a cheque at the Go Kids Go! presentation. Picture: Eleanor Young (Image: Archant)

J21 Gymnastics Club received a cheque at the Go Kids Go! presentation. Picture: Eleanor Young (Image: Archant)

St Martins C of E Primary School received a cheque at the Go Kids Go! presentation. Picture: Eleanor Young (Image: Archant)

Milton Park Primary School received a cheque at the Go Kids Go! presentation. Picture: Eleanor Young (Image: Archant)

The Go Kids Go! presentation. Picture: Eleanor Young (Image: Archant)

Weston-super-Mare Rugby Club received a cheque at the Go Kids Go! presentation. Picture: Eleanor Young (Image: Archant)