A RECENT regal military celebration in York also signalled a "transformative chapter" for sport and wellbeing in North Yorkshire.
A £12.3 million investment in sporting facilities at Catterick Garrison began on July 17, at the same time as Her Majesty Queen Camilla’s birthday celebrations in York were being marked by a 21 royal gun salute in Museum Gardens.
The chief executive of Army Sport was part of a presentation in The Hospitium Building nearby where the announcement was made.
The funding will support the creation of a rugby hub and a state-of-the-art indoor sports centre at the garrison, with backing from key organisations including the Rugby Football League, the Army Central Fund, and the Nuffield Trust for the Forces of the Crown.
A British Army spokesperson said lasting benefits would be provided for the wider community in the village of Catterick, as well as serving personnel, veterans, and their families.
Retired Major General Darrell Amison CBE, chief executive of Army Sport, said: "Developing sport in the North is an ambitious, once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the sporting facilities for our soldiers and their families in Catterick Garrison and the North, and by direct association, make a significant contribution to our Army’s fighting power.
"In recognition of this, Trustees of the Army Sport Charitable Fund have agreed to support the project via a £2 million grant."
The programme forms part of the Army’s 'Join Well – Serve Well – Leave Well' initiatives and emphasises sport’s role in physical health, mental wellbeing, and military effectiveness.
Additional funding includes £4.5 million from the Army Central Fund, £2 million from the Army Sport Charitable Fund, and £1.76 million from the Nuffield Trust.
Major General Jo Chestnutt CBE, chair of the Army Central Fund, said: "Sport plays a vital role in Army life.
"It builds resilience, strengthens teamwork, and provides opportunities for soldiers and families to connect.
"This significant investment is about much more than bricks and mortar.
"It is about creating places that encourage participation, improve wellbeing, and contribute to a positive experience of Army life for serving personnel and their families."
A spokesperson for the Nuffield Trust said: "The Trust hopes these facilities will serve as a valued hub for the Army community in the North for many years to come, helping to build friendships, strengthen morale and create a greater sense of comradeship for those who use them."
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