Sporting Assets worked with Europa Weightlifting as part of the Community Ownership Fund (COF) to help secure investment to resurface the Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) and complete the renovation of Temple Hill Youth Club.

Built in the 1970’s, located at the gateway to the post war housing estate, Temple Hill Youth Club had a long history of providing activities for young people in the Dartford area. The club is a vital local asset located in the most deprived ward in Dartford, where quality of life for young people is particularly challenging with poor health, high crime and low income households. Unfortunately, over the years, the facilities gradually deteriorated with the floodlights failing, the MUGA surface deemed unsafe, and problems with heating and water in the building. A lack of an appropriate maintenance regime and sink fund left the facilities at risk of closure.

This triggered the Youth Club to reach out to Europa, a local weightlifting gym, forming a partnership to take a long lease from the Council, and embarking on a journey to secure the c. £1.2m investment required to refurbish the centre.

Following initial success in securing investment from Sport England, through the COF programme, Sporting Assets worked closely with Europa to secure the final investment needed to repair the MUGA and reopen the facility.

Our support included:

• Developing a programme for the MUGA that balanced community and commercial demands;
• Evidencing the benefits, particularly free use to young people living in the area; and
• Producing a business plan, cashflow and 5-year forecast with different management models.

Our support helped Europa to secure a total grant award from COF of c. £245k, and £53k of partnership funding from Dartford Council.

As a result, reinstating the MUGA provides the Youth Club with approximately a third of their annual revenue and significantly enhances the offer to the local community, with 2 local primary schools, the youth club and the local estate all benefitting from free use.