A GROWING football club in Salisbury is able to give something back to the community after receiving a grant.

Salisbury Rovers were awarded a grant from Wiltshire Community Foundation worth £10,000 across two years.

That money will help the club, which launched in March, establish a football community project in the Friary and Bemerton Heath, part of their Beautiful Game Project. The initiative aims to provide children in those areas with free football sessions, activities and trips.

It will also offer access to coaching courses for young coaches and events aimed at promoting community cohesion.

Club secretary and welfare officer Debbie Sayers said: "The project has significant potential to raise the profile of football in our area and to engage lots of children who aren’t yet playing as well offering a variety of social opportunities to children.

"Salisbury Rovers FC will be working closely with local schools, Wiltshire County FA and Salisbury City Council to maximise the benefit of this grant to children.

"We strongly believe that sport is a portal and that football can be used as a positive tool within communities."

The club's application was supported by Salisbury City Council, Sarum Academy, Woodlands Primary School and St Martin’s Primary School as well as Wiltshire County FA and two local Salisbury City councillors in Caroline Corbin and Ian Tomes.