Wednesday 15 December 1999

More schools around Scotland are set to benefit from an injection of National Lottery money which will help to create more sporting opportunities for school children, it was announced today by sportscotland Lottery Fund.

Under the School Sport Co-ordinator Programme, awards totalling over £178,200 have been made to schools in East Lothian, Edinburgh, Oban and Clackmannanshire.

The money will be used to appoint a co-ordinator at secondary schools to develop extra-curricular school sport and integrate it with sport in the wider community.

Other areas to benefit so far from funding from the programme include Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Falkirk, Fife, Perth, West Lothian, North Lanarkshire, Perth and Kinross, Angus, Glasgow, Dundee, Highland and East Ayrshire.

The types of duties undertaken by co-ordinators may include: co-ordinating the extra curricular school sport programme; organising coach and teacher development and education programmes; working closely with community clubs and associated primary schools; working with appropriate local authority and national governing body staff and volunteers; and monitoring participation levels.

The awards will cover 50% of the employers’ supply cost up to £2,600 per year for one day per week for up to 40 weeks per year.  Up to £500 per year will contribute towards operational expenses such as travel, promotional material, community programmes and coaching.

Alastair Dempster, Chairman of sportscotland, said:  “It is vital that money and time are invested in developing sporting opportunities in our schools.  If children enjoy sport at school they will be more likely to continue taking part in sport in later life.  This will help to create a healthier nation.

That is why it is the aim of sportscotland to have a school sport co-ordinator in place in every school by 2003.

• A full list of this month’s awards is attached.
• Over £100m has been invested by sportscotland Lottery Fund in Scottish sport including sports facilities and equipment, major events, coaching and talented athletes.