New home for Leicester Athena after landmark partnership

It comes after a number of partners have joined forces on a project that will see a new floor and post installation points in the main sports hall at the Sports Lane complex.  

Blaby District Council, its leisure provider Everyone Active, Sport England, the East Midlands Volleyball Association, Huncote Community Library and DYNAMIK Flooring have come together to see the vision become a reality. 

Work on upgrading the facilities for volleyball will start on Monday (20th July) and will allow women's club Leicester Athena to use the centre for training and matches, as well as hosting both local and national competitions. 

The project will also see one of the under-used squash courts at Huncote refurbished to provide a new home for the local library service, with hopes of wider community activities and involvement. 

The fields surrounding the leisure centre are also being opened as a community green space after being historically used for landfill. 

Volleyball England's Chief Executive Officer Charlie Ford says it is a great example of how organisations from different sectors can come together to achieve a common goal. 

"We are incredibly excited to be part of this first-of-its-kind project for volleyball, creating a permanent home for Leicester Athena at Huncote Leisure Centre," he said. 

"This secured investment represents far more than a court refurbishment, it's about creating a sustainable, high-quality facility that will support participation, performance and community volleyball for years to come. 

"Replacing the outdated granwood tiled floor with a modern sports surface suitable for volleyball, alongside the installation of dedicated volleyball equipment including a long net system, will transform the venue into a facility that truly meets the needs of the club both in terms of its current delivery and servicing any increased demand. 

This project has only been possible thanks to the commitment and collaboration of our fantastic partners, with everyone involved bringing this vision to life. Their shared belief in what volleyball can achieve has made this landmark project a reality. 

"We also hope this becomes much more than a local success story. We will be using Huncote Leisure Centre as a case study to demonstrate what is possible when clubs, local authorities, funding partners and governing bodies work together. 

"We hope it inspires similar projects across the country, helping to create more dedicated volleyball facilities and permanent homes for clubs, strengthening the sport for future generations." 

Leicester Athena Head Founder and Coach Paul Kaerger helped Athena to on-court success in 2025-26 as they won promotion from Division 3 to Division 2 via the NVL play-offs in April. 

He hopes this development can pave the way for expansion off the field to go with their playing ambitions. 

He said: “This is an exciting opportunity for us at Leicester Athena which will allow us to have a permanent home and allow us to develop women’s volleyball in the area. 

"We are hoping the new facility will allow us to bring more girls and women into the sport and to create a volleyball hub." 

An information event offering detail on the developments at Huncote will take place on Saturday 8th August from 10am to 12 noon. 

Council officers and parish council representatives will be on hand to talk about the history of the site and exciting future plans. 

Members of Leicester Athena will be offering volleyball taster sessions and library volunteers will be outlining hopes for their new home. Police and fire service officials will also be in attendance providing general community safety advice.  

Councillor Nigel Grundy, Blaby District Council Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood Services and Assets, said: "This is an amazing example of partnership working at its very best to bring about improvements in sport and leisure provision as well as enhancing community facilities at our centre in Huncote. 

"We're delighted to welcome Leicester Athena Volleyball Club as well as Huncote Community Library and look forward to seeing the leisure centre become a new hub of sporting excellence and neighbourhood activity." 

Councillor Nick Chapman, Blaby District Council Portfolio Holder for Health, Community and Economic Development, added: "We've always been proud of our leisure provision with long-standing partner Everyone Active, but these new alliances will breathe a whole new life into Huncote Leisure Centre. 

"Not only will it become a focus for volleyball excellence but the relocation of the library will bring fresh opportunities for community activities and engagement." 

Find out more about Leicester Athena by clicking here.