Supporting grassroots sports in Salford

With grassroots football playing a vital role in local communities by fostering talent, building confidence and promoting inclusion, Salford City Council has awarded funding to replace the current changing rooms serving Wharton Lane football pitches in Little Hulton as part of its commitment to creating a fairer, greener, healthier and more inclusive city for all.

The project will see the replacement of the current condemned changing rooms where the current structure will be demolished and replaced with a modern, fit for purpose prefabricated unit.

The playing fields are solely used by North Walkden Junior FC and the aspiration for the club is to accommodate the growing demand for the development of girls’ football (Wildcats) and to incorporate referees changing and equipment storage provision.

The full project costs of £267,711 is made of up of Section 106 agreement between Salford City Council and Schofield & Sons Ltd and a USB , which can only be spent at Wharton Lane Playing Fields.

Schofield & Sons Ltd are a Salford based contractor who have accreditation with the Living Wage Foundation. They submitted their social value TOMs (Themes, Outcomes, Measures) for this project, which were independently evaluated by the Social Value Portal team producing a value of £14,702.00 made up of:

• Direct employment of local employees on this contract
• Provision of meaningful work placements
• Carbon savings from energy efficiency measures to be used on site

As part of the council’s Corporate Plan 2024 to 2028, key priorities include ensuring more people and communities can benefit from sport and physical activity opportunities, better access to sporting facilities and becoming a Child Friendly City.

Councillor Hannah Robinson-Smith, Lead Member for Culture, Heritage, Equalities, Sports and Leisure at Salford City Council said: “We are committed to giving something back to our communities, which is why supporting grassroots sports is really important. Volunteers and grassroots facilities play a significant role in helping to bring people together and improve health and wellbeing in our city.

“Like many other local green spaces across Salford, playing fields are an invaluable asset that brings communities together, and sport strengthens the connection between them, providing a place to stay active and socialise. Improving facilities at Wharton Lane will sustain the viability of the playing fields and enable a greater number of games that younger people in Salford can play.”

The works for the project were tendered under the Council’s e-tendering portal in accordance with the Council’s Contractual Standing Orders.