Kingfishers Crowdfunder begins with a splash!

Kingsbridge Kingfishers have been awarded a National Lottery Sport England supported grant of £5,000, so long as they can also Crowdfund £5,000 of their own money within the next ten weeks.

The grant, issued via Sport England’s Movement Fund, will be used to pay for a full set of brand new starting blocks, of the likes seen in modern competition pools across the country. 

Joseph Levy and Freddie Stathers testing two of the new racing starter blocks 

Kingfishers recently celebrated the arrival of the first two blocks, but a five-figure sum is needed before securing all five. Having won an auction to be the first pair to dive off the new blocks, Joseph Levy and Freddie Stathers both climbed aboard wearing their team kit.

With the whole of the club’s bronze squad watching on and counting down, they then performed their best dive and glide with their shirts remaining on. 

Following this, some of the top performing athletes in the club were able to train with them for the first time. The equipment provides a boost to Kingfishers swimmers qualified to this month’s regional age-group championships: Chloe Morris, George Tucker, Lucas Quiggin and Edna Gallego-Cooper.

The aim is to now have all five brand new starting blocks in time for the next swimming season in September. Several local groups and businesses have already come forward to show support for local sport.

Donations of £500 were made by the Kingsbridge Freemason’s Lodge, and then by the Hope Cove Weekend committee. These two groups alone have helped raise 10% of the total cost of the Crowdfunder, and the club wishes to place on record its gratitude.

Furthermore, donations have continued to arrive from our local councillors, with the latest show of support coming from councillor Laurel Lawford of Allington and Strete, who has pledged £300.

Kingsbridge businesses GoB2B, who support a number of different sports in the local area, have pledged £200, while Nigel Webster & Co Accountants have offered £100.

Kingsbridge Kingfishers has its own members newsletter and Facebook page, where local businesses and groups will continue to be publicly thanked for their support. If you are interested in supporting this Crowdfunder, then please get in touch via the email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.