"This site is about providing an opportunity to play sport where the majority of residents have no access to sports facilities, and hopefully nurture new talent for the future. The site is located between three communities in a disadvantaged area, and will be a sports hub that will contribute towards social integration."

Barclays Spaces for Sports first site outside the UK opened today, in Gansbaai, in the Overstrand Municipality on South Africa’s Western Cape.

The site is a significant step in Barclays Spaces for Sports global expansion, building on the successful delivery of 200 sustainable sports sites in the UK from which 530,000 people have benefited.

The sports centre is set to give 20,000 people in the Overstrand community an opportunity to engage in a range of activities including football, rugby, and cricket, harnessing their talent and encouraging integration. It is equipped with a new clubhouse, changing and shower facilities, and South Africa’s first full-size, third generation FIFA-approved artificial grass Tiger Turf pitch.

The launch is the result of a partnership between Barclays Spaces for Sports, the Overstrand Municipality, Barclays Premier League, Grootbos Foundation and the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport.

Absa, a South African bank in which Barclays owns a majority share, has invested R4.6m (£343,000) in the site, and is funding a programme of community engagement work with non-profit organisation SCORE to lead community use of the facility.

The Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport contributed R1.5m (£112,000), along with expertise on the development of the centre and assistance with scoping its infrastructure. The Overstrand Municipality provided land worth R10m (£745,000), a further R1m (£74,000) to develop the clubhouse, and an annual grant of R100,000 (£7,450) towards maintenance of the facility.

Barclays Premier League also contributed R1.1m (£82,000) while the Grootbos Foundation mobilised resources for the provision of trees at the site.

Local young people have been trained as sports coordinators for the new centre, and funding to cover resources for the next three years at the site has also been provided.

Thousands of members of the community joined sporting celebrities at the opening ceremony, enjoying football games, netball matches and a series of indigenous games played by local children. Among the famous faces were former Bafana Bafana and Barclays Premier League football star Mark Fish, Springbok player Chiliboy Ralepelle and coach Pieter de Villiers, and former Olympic athlete Elana Meyer.

“We are delighted to be opening our first Barclays Spaces for Sports project outside the UK for a disadvantaged community in South Africa,” said Barclays Group Vice Chairman Gary Hoffman. “We believe that sport has a valuable role to play in revitalising, integrating and inspiring communities. This is a great part of our community investment programme, which provides a three-way win: it is good for communities, good for colleagues who feel proud to be involved and also good for our business.”

“We invest a great deal in sports through sponsorships, and one of our priorities is to nurture the talents of upcoming sportsmen and sportswomen throughout the country,” added Absa Group Executive Director Happy Ntshingila. “This site is about providing an opportunity to play sport where the majority of residents have no access to sports facilities, and hopefully nurture new talent for the future. The site is located between three communities in a disadvantaged area, and will be a sports hub that will contribute towards social integration. "

“I am delighted to see the successful partnership between Barclays and the Football Foundation extend to South Africa in the shape of this magnificent new community sports facility in Gansbaai,” said Barclays Premier League and Football Foundation Chairman Sir Dave Richards. “Sport can be a powerful vehicle for social change, whether it is enabling people to stay active and healthy, or whether it is helping to improve community cohesion.”