SportsAble announce plans for £5m development of Braywick Road facilities
A £5million project to expand the SportsAble centre in Braywick Park, Maidenhead has been unveiled. The announcement was made at the annual President's reception at the club. More than 150 people attended the event to watch President John Jenkins and club chairman Vivienne Davies outline SportsAble's vision for the future.
The club is planning to build a 36,000 square foot extension to the current site to include two additional sports halls.
This will enable the club to offer a wider range of sports including basketball for disabled people and wheelchair tennis as well as double sessions of sports it already offers like air weapons and archery.
In December 2012, SportsAble won a Nationwide Star Club Award at the national awards evening organised by EFDS. SportsAble is a multi sports club, founded in 1975 with 250 disabled members taking part in archery, athletics, boccia, bowls, golf, kurling, rowing- to name just a few. They have seen many champions come through their doors.
Ffor the first time SportsAble will also be able to offer athletics by joining forces with Maidenhead Athletics club. The club is based next door to SportsAble and will adapt its track and field to be accessible to disabled people.
It is hoped that the new building will open in summer 2015. The club has estimated the money will take six months to raise and building the development will take 12 months.
Vivienne Davies said:
"We want to create and centre of excellence for disability sport in the UK. We never ever think about standing still because by standing still we may face going backwards."
The club also hopes the development is the beginning of what will lead to raising the profile of the SportsAble brand. SportsAble is now developing a plan which will enable the club to raise the £5million necessary for the project. This includes the £3million estimated for the build, plus extra funds to keep to the facility running for its first 18 months.
