Following a prolonged and intense application process, it has been confirmed that HHRFC has secured a capital grant of £250,000 from the Community Ownership Fund operated by the Department for Levelling Up Housing & Communities which means that, together with all pledges and donations already received, the initial Clubhouse build is now fully funded.

This latest award means that the team behind the HHRFC Clubhouse Project has independently raised a staggering £2.4m to build the new Clubhouse at Whitemans Green. An amazing achievement for a community grassroots rugby club run by volunteers. The opportunity to submit an application to the Community Ownership Fund was identified by the Club itself in the middle of last year and considerable work over a number of months went into making sure the bid for funds was as strong as possible. This evidenced amongst other things the Club’s broad geographic reach across the Mid Sussex area and beyond, its Rugby For All policy supported by Sweeptech Environmental Services that ensures those in financial hardship can play rugby, and its goal to be a multi-sport facility which will also become a hub for local community groups including the Scouts. It also highlighted the building’s environmentally sustainable credentials which has recently seen the new Clubhouse feature as a case study on Clean Growth UK’s “Let’s Go! Net Zero” campaign for West Sussex.

We are in the process of applying for planning permission for a gym and padel courts extension which will help make sure the facility is commercially sustainable, and there are still important aspects of the project that need financing in order to make the building a lasting success, including a full fit out of the social spaces, separate storage unit and gym, so the mission continues...

Commenting on this latest development, Mims Davies MP, HHRFC Club President said, “Knowing how hard the HHRFC project team has worked over the years to raise money for the new Clubhouse, I am truly delighted that this news confirming significant support from DLUHC will ensure the new building is fully funded. I look forward to enjoying the benefits of the new facility and am so pleased to have been able to play a part in helping to make it happen as I know how much this means to the Club and how this will greatly benefit the wider community and other key grassroots sports. HHRFC has been rightly recognised for their impressive bid and ambition for the Mid Sussex community.”

Phil Herbert, HHRFC Commercial Director added “We are delighted that this latest significant contribution from DLUHC when combined with all other funds we have raised over the last five years, including the generous contribution from The Grundfos Foundation, plus recent grants of £20,000 from Ansty & Staplefield Parish Council and £5,000 from Cuckfield Parish Council to name but a few have together pushed us over the line to reach our £2.4m target. We are grateful for the tremendous help and support we have received from MSDC, our sponsors, partners, members, charitable foundations and other grant-givers of all political persuasions plus our local community. Our goal has always been to create an independent multi-sport community hub, the Whitemans Green Sports Club, that seeks to improve the health and wellbeing of the local area. We are now in a position to make this ambitious vision happen.”

A big thank you to everyone who has believed in this project and played any part in making it happen. We will be keeping you posted with ongoing progress regarding the build – please continue to support all fund raising events and activities so we can deliver the new facility in Autumn 2024 and make the new Clubhouse the best multi-sport facility possible for current and future generations in Mid Sussex.