Community sport in the Edinburgh area is set to improve thanks to £190,950 of investment from sportscotland’s Sport Facilities Fund for Scout Centres in Bonaly and South Queensferry.
A new amenity hub will be developed at the South East Scotland Scout centre at Bonaly with £100,000 of investment allowing more young people to access outdoor education and be physically active. The improved facilities will allow the hub and campsite to be used by more Scouts, Guides, school and community groups from across Edinburgh and the wider Region.
In South Queensferry, the Longcraig Scout Centre will be upgraded to improve the changing and toilet facilities with investment of £90,950 from the Sports Facilities Fund. The improvements will increase the flexibility and accessibility of the centre making it suitable for people with additional support needs, as well as accommodating all gender identities. As with the Bonaly Scout centre, this will provide increased opportunities for young people of all ages from across Edinburgh and wider Region to take part in outdoor sport and physical activity.
A total of £819,885 of investment will be shared by 12 community projects across Scotland to help them develop their 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.
Acting Chief Executive 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, Martin Elliot, Regional Commissioner from South East Scotland Scouts, said:
This support from SportScotland is invaluable to South East Scotland Scouts as it enables us to improve the facilities at both Bonaly and Longcraig Scout Centres. Our centres are a crucial part of our overall strategy to provide outdoor experiences and skills for life to more young people. Therefore, this is a massive endorsement and great for our young people, their families and the wider community.
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 2007, sportscotland has invested over £200million 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.
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