The Acorn Centre
   Acklam Grange School
   Off Heythrop Drive
   Acklam
   Middlesbrough
   TS5 8PB

   Tel: 01642 850303
   Fax: 01642 277701

Background
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It has been recognised for some time that sports facilities at Acklam Grange School are antiquated and inadequate for delivering the current PE and school sports opportunities to its pupils. Coupled with this there is limited access to local Sport and Leisure facilities for the communities of the West Middlesbrough catchment area, thus contributing to the public health inequalities of people living in the area. In response to this a steering group was formed in January 2002, consisting of representatives from Acklam Grange School, Middlesbrough LEA, West Middlesbrough Neighbourhood Trust and Middlesbrough Primary Care Trust to prepare a application to the Big Lottery Fund for capital funding to build a ‘fit for purpose’ new Sport and Inclusion Community Centre on the site of Acklam Grange School.

During the Autumn of 2003 it was announced by The Big Lottery Fund that the submission of the application was successful and consequently the Sports and Inclusion project was awarded £1.2 million with the purpose of increasing the delivery of the PE Curriculum, out-of-school hour’s opportunities and community access to the sports and inclusion facility.