John Swinney visited Awaz in Pollokshields to open the Awaz Hub which will aim to tackle inactivity and social isolation in the area.
Awaz - The Voice of the Community, the charity arm of Asian radio station Awaz FM, was awarded £25,860 from sportscotland’s Sport Facilities Fund to convert a storage area into a space for physical activity classes, aimed primarily at the South Asian Community in Pollokshields.
The project will help the organisation to increase physical activity opportunities for women and older men in those communities who may be inactive, less active or socially isolated. The facility is within an area of deprivation and the group have a strong outreach to its residents, most of whom are from ethnically diverse communities. Awaz – The Voice of the Community also run a strong youth programme in the area.
The First Minister heard about the team’s plans for the new hub and was taken around the radio station to find out more about their work in broadcasting.
The First Minister heard about the team’s plans for the new hub and was taken around the radio station to find out more about their work in broadcasting.
First Minister John Swinney said:
“I am grateful for the opportunity to officially open the Awaz Hub. Funded by sportscotland, this fantastic space will give people in the local community greater access to sport and exercise.
“Sport and physical activity is for everyone. We should all feel included, and able to take part and access the benefits that it brings. “It is vital that we continue to break down the barriers financial or otherwise, that keep too many people from leading active lives.”
Founded in 1996, Awaz FM is Glasgow’s Asian Radio Station and serves the people of Glasgow, broadcasting in English, Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, Paharhi and Persian.
Awaz FM is a Community Radio Station which delivers community programming and also offers training in radio broadcasting skills. In 2015 it set up Awaz - The Voice of the Community which delivers community activities. The Awaz hub has been built for a total cost of £36,943, including the funding from sportscotland’s Sport Facilities Fund.
The Awaz hub has been built for a total cost of £36,943, including the funding from sportscotland’s Sport Facilities Fund.
sportscotland, Chief Executive, Forbes Dunlop also visited the new venue to meet the team behind Awaz.
He said: “We know that sport and physical activity have an important role to play in bringing communities together. The team at Awaz are doing fantastic work which will mean more people will have an opportunity to become physically active and feel part of their local community.”
The aim of 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.
Rizwan Ahmed, Project Manager for Awaz – The Voice of the Community:
“We are delighted to receive the funding from sportscotland which has helped to develop the hub which will be an asset for the local communities. We look forward to seeing the hub flourish.”
Find out more
Information on the Sports Facilities Fund
