Ely sports association proudly show off what 15,000 votes helped them to secure thanks to the Calor Community Fund scheme

Ely Outdoor Sports Association (EOSA) is celebrating its 25th year with a new kitchen mainly provided with cash from the Calor Community Fund. Hughes Electrical also helped them. The old kitchen (Image: Archant)

The association, celebrating its 25th anniversary, is delighted with the new kitchen that a successful bid to the Calor Community Fund secured.

Association director Julia Gilbert said ‘We can’t thank the people of Ely enough for their support in helping us get this much needed grant.

“It was a close run competition – both exciting and nerve racking – but the result is so appreciated by all those that use the new kitchen.

“We are also hugely grateful to Hughes Electrical for their generous donation of appliances for the kitchen and a fantastic sound system for the social area.”

Ely Outdoor Sports Association (EOSA) is celebrating its 25th year with a new kitchen mainly provided with cash from the Calor Community Fund. Hughes Electrical also helped them. Members of the clubs taken when EOSA was first formed in 1993 and work started on the construction of the astro pitch and tennis courts. (Image: Archant)

The kitchen is used by members of the hockey, rugby and tennis clubs for their team teas as well as for their social events.

The bar and social area is also available for hire by the local community and with the new kitchen and sound system in the social area, it is an ideal venue for a party, event or meeting.

Formed back in 1993 Ely Outdoor Sports Association is home to Ely City Hockey Club, Ely Tigers Rugby Club and Ely Tennis Club.

With three rugby pitches, an astro pitch and four tennis courts and a clubhouse, it provides sporting and social facilities for not only its three member clubs but to the wider community as a whole.

With the kitchen in the clubhouse desperately in need of replacing, the association applied for a grant from the Calor Community Fund.

Julia said: “We needed to secure enough votes though to get through to the final round and with the help of the Ely Standard, the residents of Ely and the surrounding areas stepped up to the challenge.

“At the end of the 4 week voting round, our kitchen project was in 1st place with over 15000 votes.”

She said: “The project was felt to be worthy enough of a £5,000 grant by the Calor Community Fund and with a £1,000 cheque from Tesco Bags of Help, work started to replace the kitchen in October.

“The icing on the cake though was a very generous donation by Hughes Electrical in Ely High Street of two fridges, a freezer, microwave and kettle for the kitchen together with a new sound system and speakers for social area.”