This summer will see Europe’s top athletes converge on Scotland to compete in an exciting new multi-sport event, the Glasgow 2018 European Championships, from 2-12 August.
Scotland’s Community Sport Hubs will be among the sporting beneficiaries of the event courtesy of a £500,000 legacy fund.
- Watch our interviews with Sports Minister Aileen Campbell MSP and sportscotland chief executive Stewart Harris.
Community Sport Hubs (CSHs) were a sportscotland legacy commitment for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and Glasgow 2018 will provide a fantastic opportunity to build on that success.
The main focus will be on GO LIVE! Get Active, a programme to support hubs in establishing a new sport or physical activity for the least active people in their communities, with the aim of improving health, wellbeing and social cohesion.
The network of 181 hubs across all 32 local authorities will be given the opportunity to bid for a share of the GO LIVE! funding to support those new activities.
Speaking at the South-West Edinburgh Community Sport Hub at Heriot Watt University, where she took part in a walking netball session, Ms Campbell said: “The Glasgow 2018 European Championships provide the perfect opportunity to encourage Scotland to become a more active nation. This investment in Community Sport Hubs aims to deliver national long-term benefit across Scotland by encouraging communities to take part in a new sport or physical activity.”
Collaboration is key
A one-off investment of up to £5,000 will be made to the successful applicants and hubs from across Scotland are encouraged to collaborate with other partners and be creative when thinking about what they want to deliver.
Priority will be given to projects that engage people from Scotland’s most deprived communities, and identifying and training local volunteers to deliver the new sessions will play an important part in ensuring the activities are sustainable.
With 181 hubs now up and running we are on course to reach the target of 200 hubs by 2020.
A tangible legacy
Stewart Harris welcomed the investment from Scottish Government, saying: “The growth of Community Sport Hubs right across Scotland has shown that with careful planning and partnership working, it is possible to derive a tangible legacy from hosting major events.
“We are delighted that the Scottish Government has continued its legacy commitment to Scottish sport as part of the staging of the European Championships and has recognised the significant contribution of Community Sport Hubs.
"I know all those involved in the hub network will be ready for the challenge and keen to play their part in encouraging their communities to become more active.”
The aim is to invest in at least 50 hubs, which will mean that about one in three hubs in each local authority will receive GO LIVE! Get Active investment.
Colin Hartley, Glasgow 2018 championships director, said: “The European Championships will allow Glasgow and Scotland to take the next step on its legacy journey and inspire a new generation of young people through the power of sport. We know from experience that sport can change lives so we are delighted that this funding will benefit the Community Sport Hubs network across the country.”
To support the new activities a second GO LIVE! development strand will focus on upskilling the CSH workforce. GO LIVE! Go Lead is an opportunity for local volunteers with the potential to develop leadership skills to be given the opportunity to participate in a tailored leadership programme.
Each of the local authorities that receives investment for hubs will be offered up to two places on the programme to support and improve the CSH experience for their members.
Community Sport Hubs were designed to meet the specific needs of each local area. There is no ‘one size fits all’ model and being run for, and by, the local community means they can really have an impact and play an important part in further strengthening Scotland’s world-class sporting system. The GO LIVE! initiative will enhance the great work that is already being done by CSHs and provide more and better opportunities for Scottish communities to get active.
Find out more
Discover how your hub can apply for funding: GO LIVE!
All the info you need on the Glasgow 2018 European Championships.
