HELP US CREATE A MODERN CITY SPORTS HUB IN THE HEART OF LEICESTER! Our club (Est 1894) has been chosen, as one of the most successful thriving women's hockey clubs in England, to take over the running of St Margaret's Pastures Sports Centre in the heart of Leicester City - and we have exciting plans in the pipeline! The club has a long-standing reputation for providing young people and adults in Leicestershire with safe, accessible and inspirational hockey and multi-sport opportunities, for all levels, ages and abilities. We now have a game changing opportunity to turn St Margaret's Pastures Sports Centre into a thriving modern city sports hub for everyone to access. The main pitch is out-dated and of a poor standard to offer quality sports opportunities for the community and groups it serves. Reaching our target will enable us to 'switch the pitch', by funding the removal of the old surface and preparing the base ready for the installation of a top-class water-based pitch.

What we'll deliver:

• Take up and dispose of the existing tired synthetic pitch
• Prepare the base for a new quality water-based pitch to be laid

Why it's a great idea:

Junior hockey and participation of under-represented groups is relatively lacking in Leicester City, partly due to barriers limiting access to suitable quality pitches, coaching and club opportunities. We are determined to help level the playing field and ensure anyone can take part, regardless of background, age and ability. Reaching our funding target to take up the old pitch is critical in helping us to unlock the further £300k of funding needed to then purchase the new carpet, floodlights and fencing. Upgrading the pitch will provide the opportunity for role models (including our own Olympians!) to inspire local inner-city children to get involved and experience sporting activities on the best surface there is!

Steps to get it done:

• Strip and dispose of existing old pitch surface
• Strip and dispose of the existing shock pad
• Strip and dispose of existing macadam surfacing to allow the new pitch to be positioned better
• Roll and prepare the base ready to install the new pitch

WE HAVE DIVIDED THE PITCH INTO 1000 SQUARES. THE MORE PLEDGES, THE MORE SQUARES WE CAN CHANGE FROM OLD TO NEW! IF WE HAVE THE SUPPORT OF 1000 BACKERS AT £20 EACH, THAT'S £20,000 RAISED! ALONG WITH LOCAL SPONSORSHIP, WE HOPE TO THEN ACHIEVE THE £30,000 TARGET. IF WE HAVE 1000 BACKERS AT £30 EACH, WE RAISE OUR FULL TARGET OF £30,000 AND HOPEFULLY MOVE INTO OVERFUNDING WITH THE SUPPORT OF LOCAL SPONSORSHIP. The need for a central accessible pitch is needed more than ever to inspire more people to get active and play the sport. Currently there is no water-based hockey pitch in the City of Leicester, the nearest is 6 miles away on the grounds of a private school. By supporting our project you will be helping to remove the disadvantage faced by city people who currently lack the best playing experience, and enable us to ensure playing opportunities are equal for everyone.