New sporting opportunities for Gracemount
Thursday 10 June 2004
The people of South Edinburgh will be celebrating 40 years of Gracemount Youth and Community Centre on Saturday 12 June with the official opening of the eagerly awaited sports multi-court by former chairman, Allan Blacklaws, OBE.
The new all-weather, floodlit, multi-court providing football, unihoc, hockey, tennis and volleyball facilities, has been supported by an award of £67,500 from sportscotland’s Lottery Fund Sports Facilities Programme. By expanding the range of sporting activities and providing structured training classes to develop sporting skills, Gracemount hopes to encourage more people of all ages and abilities to take part in sport as part of a healthy lifestyle, helping to make more people, more active, more often.
“We are delighted to support the new multi-court at Gracemount with an award of £67,500 from sportscotland’s Lottery Fund Sports Facilities Programme, providing the local community with the opportunity to participate in a variety of sports.
Gracemount Youth and Community Centre, the first and longest running independent youth centre in Scotland opened in 1964, providing the young people of Gracemount with access to pool and snooker facilities, a BMX track, archery area and other outdoor activities six nights a week.
The Centre has close links with local primary and secondary schools and the new multi-court will enable pupils to take part in a wider range of sporting activities as part of their PE curriculum. By introducing children of school age to the fun and enjoyment sport can provide, the Centre aims to encourage more young people to take part outside school hours and make physical activity part of their everyday lives.
John Boag, MBE, a longstanding member of Gracemount Youth and Community Centre said: “Over the past 40 years we have always tried to provide young people with a wide choice of activities. After much fundraising we managed to build our first all-weather pitch in the 70’s, the first of its kind in Scotland. Thanks to the sportscotland Lottery Fund we now have an extra provision that will help us provide the same choice for the next generation.”
Alastair Dempster, Chairman of sportscotland added: “We are delighted to support the new multi-court at Gracemount with an award of £67,500 from sportscotland’s Lottery Fund Sports Facilities Programme, providing the local community with the opportunity to participate in a variety of sports.
“Quality, accessible facilities are key to introducing people to the benefits and enjoyment sport can provide. By supporting projects such as this sportscotland hopes to increase levels of participation and the health of our nation.”
- The official opening will take place as part of the 40th anniversary celebrations at Gracemount Youth and Community Centre, Lasswade Road, Edinburgh, EH16 6UA on Saturday 12 June 2004 at 2.30pm
- Gracemount Youth and Community Centre is based in the South Edinburgh Social Inclusion Partnership Area.