New and existing community sport facilities across Scotland are set to benefit from nearly £1.2million of investment from sportscotland’s Sport Facilities Fund to local partners.
A total of £1,166,600 will be shared across 10 projects to help develop existing facilities or create a new home for sport and physical activity.
It sees much-needed investment in rural communities, areas of deprivation, and for projects designed to make sport more accessible and inclusive. The investment has been 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 Shetland where a new 3G pitch will host a range of sports year-round. In Glasgow, the Castlemilk Community Football Trust will be able to make the Barlia Football Centre more accessible with an upgrade to the existing pavilion which will see four changing rooms built, allowing for increased use by women’s and girls’ teams as well as disabled players.
In Edinburgh, Ravelrig Riding for the Disabled have been awarded £200,000 towards a new indoor riding arena which will increase participation throughout winter when the use of the current outdoor venue is at the mercy of the weather. The organisation support people with a range of disabilities and provide therapeutic and recreational riding opportunities.
Ravelrig RDA work with children, young people and adults with physical, learning disabilities, emotional and behaviour difficulties and mental health challenges, supported by over 100 volunteers. With an ever-growing waiting list and demand high from ASN schools and the community, a year-round facility will help satisfy that demand.
Since April 2004, sportscotland has invested over £225m 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.
Chief Executive Officer of sportscotland, Forbes Dunlop, said:
“It is inspiring to see the number of projects looking to improve opportunities for sport and physical activity in the latest round of Sport Facilities Funding.
“We know 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."
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.
Welcoming the investment, Elaine Jefferies, Chair of Ravelrig RDA, said:
"The new arena has long been a long-term goal of Ravelrig RDA volunteers, participants and supporters. to enable lessons to continue all year round. At our previous outdoor arena many are rescheduled or cancelled due to the challenges we have with the weather.
“The vision, drive, commitment and support of everyone involved past and present is wholly appreciated and we’d like to thank sportscotland and our other funding partners for helping make the new arena a reality.”
John Harkins, Charity Manager for Castlemilk Community Football Trust, added:
“This money from sportscotland is essential to our plans to design and redevelop our changing pavilion into a reimagined space that will complement our recent pitches and floodlights redevelopment.
“This an exciting project that will benefit our footballing and wider community, creating a multi-purpose community space and meeting rooms as well as new improved changing areas, toilets and kitchen.
“Castlemilk Community Football Trust is grateful to have sportscotland as one of our main funders, allowing us to increase accessibility and participation rates at Barlia for all ages and abilities and developing a top-class sports facility, fit for the future, to be enjoyed and utilised by generations to come.”
Find out more
• More information on the Sports Facilities Fund
• The full list of projects who will benefit from this round of funding are:
Argyll and Bute
Cove Sailing Club - £100,000
New club house
Dumfries and Galloway
Stranraer Watersports Association - £100,000
Waterfront regeneration and new hub development
Dalbeattie Community Initiative - £100,000
Indoor and outdoor bouldering wall
Edinburgh
Ravelrig Riding for the Disabled - £200,000
A new indoor riding arena
Glasgow
Castlemilk Community Football Trust - £149,000
Upgrade to changing facilties to increase capacity and make them more accessible
Awaz FM - £25,860
Upgrade of multi-purpose community space
Scottish Borders
Peebles Bowling Club - £70,000
Extension of changing and toilet facilities
Shetland
Shetland Islands Council - £150,000
New 3G pitch and floodlights
South Ayrshire
Troon Water Sports Centre - £121,800
New water-based community hub
Girvan Youth Football Club - £150,000
Upgrade of sports pavilion to include inclusive changing facilities
