Reading Borough Council has provided new funding to Reading Athletic Club to help more local children get involved in track and field sports. The financial support, announced on 8 April 2026, aims to remove barriers for young people by funding special coaching sessions at primary schools, providing new equipment, and offering free or discounted club memberships.
The funding has also allowed the club to improve its base at Palmer Park Stadium by purchasing additional storage space. This upgrade is part of a broader commitment to the facility, which underwent a £500,000 track improvement project in 2025.
The investment in grassroots participation follows a string of recent successes for the club, which was established in 1881. In March 2026, club athlete Sammy Ball won the UK Indoor Heptathlon Championships in Glasgow, setting a new club record. Earlier that same month, fellow member Jess Gibbon secured back-to-back victories at the UK Inter-Counties Cross Challenge in Nottingham.
Beyond this new project, Reading Borough Council continues to support local talent through its Sports Aid Fund, which provides financial grants to athletes of all ages for competition and training costs. The council also partners with organisations like the GLL Sport Foundation to provide additional resources for sportspeople in the area.
Residents interested in the club’s activities can learn more about its history and training programmes through the Reading Athletic Club official website.
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