After the success of Team GB at the Sochi Winter Olympics, the UK went Curling crazy! Many people took to social media to express an interest in trying the sport. If you live in Scotland then you are one of the lucky ones as there are 22 curling rinks North of the border.

For people in England its a little more of a challenge. In a sport where Team GB are one of the powerhouses there is only one dedicated curling rink in England, a self funded barn conversion situated in Kent. 

I understand that ice rinks are expensive to build and that is not what is necessarily being asked of Sport England here. There are ice rinks up and down the country yet most are reluctant to hold regular curling sessions. Why? Its simply down to money, the rink can make more money from holding public skating sessions or an ice hockey match than they can from a couple of hours of paying curling customers.

Sport England should offer willing rinks a cash incentive to make curling sessions worth their while. If just 3 or 4 curling rinks in England held a weekly curling session  (not expecting them to be free) at a peak time, then that would significantly increase participation in England, widen the talent pool and be a place where a community can come together to play this social sport.

Of course Curling does get funding, that is not being questioned, the problem is the location of the facilities or rather the pure lack of them in England. Curling is a fun and addictive sport that people of all background and ages can come together and play, we need more facilities!

Please sign this petition to persuade Sport England to work with English ice rinks to provide more facilities for this sport.