It’s celebration time for more clubs, communities and leisure trusts across Scotland as they receive a share of over £900,000 of investment in the latest round of awards from sportscotland’s Sport Facilities Fund.
Investing to improve access
Projects focusing on sports as diverse as kayaking and cricket will benefit from investment and ongoing support from sportscotland to realise their ambitions of improving access to sport and physical activity in their local area.
This investment is made possible thanks to National Lottery players, who raise £30million each week for good causes across the UK.
Minister for Public Health and Sport, Mairi Gougeon, commented on the importance of sport and physical activity for communities. She said: “This latest investment from sportscotland’s Sport Facilities Fund will help make a real impact in communities across Scotland.
“Over the last year we have seen the vital role sport and physical activity has played in supporting our communities to stay connected and be more active.”
Ms Gougeon continued: “I’m pleased to hear that more projects are benefiting from this latest round of funding, which will support local projects to ensure more diverse and inclusive opportunities are available in communities whilst increasing access to sport for all.”
In total, £903,686 will be shared by 11 projects across 10 different local authorities in Scotland from East Lothian to the Shetland Islands. The investment will support clubs and communities in their aim to improve access to sport in their local community and to deliver sustainable projects.
Ambition and commitment
Chief Executive of sportscotland, Stewart Harris, was also keen to stress the importance of facilities like these in empowering communities: “It is fantastic to see the ambition and commitment from the people behind these projects who are working together to improve the lives of their local communities.
“We know that sport and physical activity can play a part in Scotland’s recovery from COVID-19.
"Facilities like these will not only allow more people to participate but can also provide a place for communities to come together and support one another as we work our way out of these challenging times.
He added: “It’s important to recognise that without National Lottery players this level of investment simply would not be possible, so we must say a huge thank you to everyone who has bought a National Lottery ticket.”
Removing barriers
The sportscotland Sport Facilities Fund makes awards for capital projects designed to create or improve the places where people take part in sport and physical activity.
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 for under-represented groups, and in rural areas or areas of deprivation. 
Projects are encouraged to engage with sportscotland’s facilities team at the earliest stage to ensure that their plans will have the greatest impact, make the most of the available investment and continue to meet the needs of their local communities in the future.
Funded projects
- Garioch Sports Centre (Aberdeenshire) £50,000
- Strathmore Rugby Club (Angus) £75,000
- Portobello Sailing and Kayak Club (City of Edinburgh) £77,625
- Twechar Community Canal Centre (East Dunbartonshire) £100,000
- Eskmuthe Rowing Club (East Lothian) £67,000
- Westquarter and Redding Cricket Club (Falkirk Council) £100,000
- Glasgow Watersports (Glasgow City Council) £22,684
- Inverness College (UHI) (Highland Council) £300,000
- Glengarnock Ironworks Bowling Club (North Ayrshire Council) £50,000
- Inspire Motivate Celebrate (North Ayrshire Council) £31,377
- Shetland Golf Club (Shetland Island Council) £30,000
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