Sidmouth netball club was set up in 2016 with generous start-up funding from the Keith Owen Fund, the Parishes Together fund and sponsorship from the Toucan Property Group.

These three local charities and businesses provided the platform from which small acorns grow. Some seven years later and the club now trains up to 100 girls on a weekly basis from year 4 taster sessions to competitive league netball for our eight junior teams from year 6 to 11.

The netball pathway is in place for girls to progress into the adult game, culminating in the highly competitive Honiton Ladies League where we currently have an u16, u18 and two ladies teams.

All this is achieved through the kind generosity of volunteers across the club and, most importantly, the collective support of the local community, whether from the council, local charities or local businesses.

Over the past year for example, we have been the grateful recipients of funding from Sidmouth Consolidated Charities, the Town Council and the Co-operative Group, which has been essential to ensure that all girls who want to play netball can do so, irrespective of personal circumstances.

It has also enabled us to fund ‘home grown’ coaches, ensuring the sustainability of the club in the near future. The next step is to develop two covered, floodlit courts in Sidmouth, so that we can continue to grow the club and encourage a wider community engagement in the future.

Anyone willing to help us in this endeavour, please do get in touch via our website www.sidmouthnetball.co.uk or by email at sidmouthnetball@gmail.com. In the meantime, a huge thank you to the local community for making netball a reality for so many girls and ladies in the Sid Valley.

The club website is also an excellent hub for general information on netball in Sidmouth, including an introduction to the fabulous team of coaches, who share their amazing enthusiasm for the sport. There is also guidance on training, fixtures and fees, as well as the safeguarding policies. Give it a visit and give netball a try.