Community sport across Scotland is set to be boosted thanks to over £1.5 million of investment from sportscotland’s Sport Facilities Fund to local partners.
A total of £1,506,263 will be shared across 18 projects to help develop existing facilities or create a new home for sport and physical activity. This investment is made possible thanks to National Lottery players, who raise £30 million each week for good causes across the UK.
A diverse range of projects will benefit including in Glasgow where a new 3G pitch will increase sporting opportunities year-round, while in North Lanarkshire facility upgrades at Waysiders/Drumpellier RFC will allow for continued growth and development of youth and female rugby in the area.
New bouldering at The Edinburgh International Climbing Arena will ensure the venue becomes the only climbing centre in the UK with Olympic standard facilities for all three climbing disciplines. And on the tiny Isle of Gigha in Argyll and Bute, a multi-use games area will become the community’s first facility for sport and physical activity.
Bringing communities together
Chief Executive Officer of sportscotland, Forbes Dunlop, said:
“The ambition behind the projects receiving investment in this latest round of Sport Facilities Funding is inspiring, particularly as we are facing exceptionally challenging times with significant financial pressures at all levels.
“We know, however, that sport and physical activity have an important role to play in bringing communities together and building resilience. Thanks to the continued commitment of our local partners more people will have an opportunity to become physically active and feel part of their local community."
This latest round of funding sees much-needed investment in rural communities, areas of deprivation, and for projects designed to make sport more accessible and inclusive.
Welcoming the investment, Jane Millar, Business Development Manager for the Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust said:
“The lack of sports provision on the island has been identified for a number of years by the community, therefore we are pleased to be working in partnership with Gigha Primary Parent Council and Live Argyll Active Schools to drive forward the community’s ambitions.
Supporting wellbeing
“The funding secured from sportscotland has been instrumental in starting the process and the delivery of multi-use games area would not be possible without their support.
“Ensuring there is a dedicated and safe space for the community to participate in sports is crucial to attracting and retaining the islands younger generation in particular. The facility will also support the wellbeing of our residents and will help facilitate opportunities to enhance their interest and skills in sports.”
Glasgow Girls and Women FC have been awarded £100,000 towards a new 3G pitch at Budhill Park in Springboig. Weather can restrict the amount of use for the current grass pitch. The development will create more football opportunities for the women and girls at the club and open up the opportunity for extended community use.
David McDermott, Development Manager for Glasgow Girls and Women FC, said:
"The award from sportscotland's facilities fund will support us to install a new 3G pitch and floodlights at our existing facilities at Budhill Park. This development will enable our existing football teams to train and play football matches at the same location and will foster a greater feeling of togetherness amongst our club members.
“It will also enable greater numbers of young females across our community to fully engage in football focused activities and derive significant benefits from participation in our great sport."
The aim behind the sportscotland Sport Facilities Fund is to support capital projects which are designed to create or improve the places where people take part in sport and physical activity in their local community.
Priority is given to projects that widen access to participation or allow people to progress further within their chosen sport locally by removing barriers, particularly in rural areas or areas of deprivation and for under-represented groups.
In addition to the investment, projects can benefit from the expertise within sportscotland’s facilities team to maximise the impact that their plans will have, ensuring they meet the needs of their local communities now and in the future.
Since April 2004, sportscotland has invested over £222m of Scottish Government and National Lottery funding to help sports clubs, community groups, local authorities, sport’s governing bodies and other organisations deliver new and upgraded sporting facilities across the country.
Find out more
- More information on the Sports Facilities Fund can be found on the sportscotland website: https://sportscotland.org.uk/funding/sport-facilities-fund/
· The full list of projects who will benefit from this round of funding are:
Argyll and Bute
Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust - £55,000
· New multi-use games area
Dundee
Dundee North West Community Sports Club - £100,000
· New 3G pitch
East Ayrshire
Kilmarnock Tennis Club - £54,000
· Two new multi-court playing surfaces for tennis, padel and pickleball
East Lothian
Musselburgh RFC - £9,106
· New floodlights
Edinburgh
Edinburgh International Climbing Arena - £100,000
· Bouldering redevelopment
Falkirk
The Falkirk Community Football Foundation - £100,000
· For a community hub to allow the Foundation to expand on their range of sport, health care, education and employability programmes
Glasgow
Glasgow Girls and Women FC - £100,000
· For a new 3G pitch
Highland
Bught Park - £200,000
· For a new ten-team changing facility for use by various sports from community to international level
North Ayrshire
Irvine Judo Club - £142,000
· For an extension which will allow the club to nearly double its weekly users
Beith Playpark Action Group - £50,000
· For a new skatepark which will allow participation in cycling, scootering and skating free of charge
North Lanarkshire
Waysiders/Drumpellier RFC - £58,000
· Changing rooms upgrade to eliminate some barriers to the growth of youth and female rugby at the club
Orkney
The North Ronaldsay Trust - £50,000
· For a new gym and wellbeing facility
Perth and Kinross
Aberfeldy Sports Club - £120,710
· For a mixed-use clubhouse facility
Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Football Club - £67,100
· For a new changing facility
Renfrewshire
West Coast Paddlers - £13,626
· To help provide a secure storage space for boats and equipment, and the creation of a training and teaching space
South Ayrshire
Cambusdoon Sports Club - £78,320
· For inclusive changing rooms with the aim of attracting more female members at the home of four different clubs
Vics in the Community - £100,000
· Redeveloping its pavilion to allow for greater community and event use and upgraded changing facilities
South Lanarkshire
Hamilton Gymnastics Club - £108,401
· For an extension which will allow some of the 250 people on the club’s waiting list to become members of the club
