Gainsborough Karate club welcomes grant support after struggling during Covid-19 pandemic

C.J.S. Karate Defence was established in 2016 and is run by Craig Sanderson at Marton and Gate Burton Village Hall, it teaches Shotokan Karate-Do, Karate Jutsu and self-defence.

After struggling to raise the required funds due to the Covid-19 pandemic the club applied for help from the Lincolnshire Community Foundation, which supports charities, community groups and organisations.

Craig said: “As part of Covid-19 we were unable to collect the same amount of funds we would usually raise to help with annual expenses.

"We applied to the NET FUND managed by Lincolnshire Community Foundation and the grant has paid for 12 months hall hire.

"This means we can use any income on other expenses and it will help us save up for some mats so we can enhance the student's learning experience enabling us to safely practice more skills and techniques to help with self-defence.

"This is something we have been saving for since we opened and Covid-19 was about to crush that goal but the grant means the closure for the majority of the pandemic has not put us back to square one financially.

"It has also given us the opportunity to renew all current student's insurance who paid last year but were unable to make the most of it.”

Anyone who is interested in learning Karate and self-defence is welcome to join. Current students age range from ten to over 80. Lessons cost £4.50 for a two hour lesson which takes place Wednesdays from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. Insurance is free for the first four weeks and you need to book on before attending.

To book email [email protected] or the secretary directly on [email protected].​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

C.J.S. Karate Defence is re-opening on May 19, and for more information visit www.KarateDefence.com, C.J.S. Karate Defence on Facebook or @KarateDefenceUK on Instagram and for more information about the Lincolnshire Community Foundation visit www.lincolnshirecf.co.uk.