Sheffield foundation 'wouldn't be able' to continue without share of £1 billion grant

A Sheffield-based charity supporting ‘socially excluded’ individuals has been given a ‘really important’ share of a £1 billion National Lottery grant.
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The Brendan Ingle Foundation, set up in memory of Wincobank’s legendary boxing trainer, has been given a share of more than £1 billion awarded by the National Lottery during the last year to support people and projects cope with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The volunteer-run charity addresses the needs of those who are socially excluded and at risk of becoming socially marginalised, and this cash injection has been branded ‘really important’ for its ability to carry out its work.

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Brendan trained four world champions at his Wincobank gym, and the legacy lives on thanks to the trailblazing work of his daughter, Bridget.

The Brandan Ingle Foundation's 'Walk Fit to Fight Covid' projectThe Brandan Ingle Foundation's 'Walk Fit to Fight Covid' project
The Brandan Ingle Foundation's 'Walk Fit to Fight Covid' project

Bridget kept Sheffield moving throughout the pandemic as the foundation’s ‘Walk Fit to Fight Covid’ project engaged with over 100 men and women.

Bridget, aged 54, said: “We’ve constantly adapted and kept people moving – and the particular group of women we’ve worked with have got support.

“The Sport England grant’s been really important in tackling a group of people who wouldn’t have been exercising, and who were socially isolated.

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“Everything was done on a voluntary basis – this grant allowed us to pay some of the run leaders who already put a lot of voluntary hours in, and to support the walking group for the extra sessions.

A group of women supported by the Foundation's workA group of women supported by the Foundation's work
A group of women supported by the Foundation's work

“There’s only so much you can expect people to do on a voluntary basis, and we’ve kept everybody motivated and moving since the beginning of the lockdown.

“Without the grant from Yorkshire Sport – funded by Sport England – we wouldn’t have been able to do that work.”

Bridget has a PhD in metabolic bone research and is determined to champion the importance of physical exercise throughout Sheffield – bolstered by the National Lottery funding.

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She added: “I think it’s fantastic the National Lottery supports community-based projects.

“Without that funding, they just wouldn’t happen. I’m grateful to everybody who purchases National Lottery tickets, because we all benefit from the funding, whether it’s in sport or beyond that.”