Outdoor sports blossom with sportscotland funding
Tuesday 16 May 2006
Spring is in full bloom, and there’s no better time to get outdoors and get active. And a number of governing bodies in Scotland, representing waterskiing, orienteering, sub aqua and mountain training, have had their annual awards from sportscotland funding, totalling £148,000.
waterskiscotland has received £39,500 in sportscotland funding. The investment, of which £19,500 is Lottery funding, will go towards organisational development of the governing body and maintaining and improving membership services at the National Training Site at Townhill, Dunfermline. The centre provides a one-stop informational and educational hub for the water sport.
Run by waterskiscotland, the National Training Site for the sport, which ranks amongst the best in Europe, offers courses for all aspects of the sport and acts as adviser and examiner for existing and new clubs. Its aim is to increase participation and membership in the sport, promote good practice within clubs and ensure they adhere to operational competency standards.
This year’s investment of £16,500 from the Athlete Support programme will fund three skiers to allow them to compete on the world stage. Jaki Hunter, who placed third in last year’s World Championships, Sam Haslam and Nicole Arthur will all benefit from the training and competition programme managed by waterskiscotland.
The Scottish Orienteering Association (SOA) has received £71,500 in sportscotland funding. The investment, of which £31,000 is Lottery funding, will go towards club development, coaching, player improvement and organisational development.
A volunteer-led governing body, the SOA consistently works to increase training for coaches, officials and volunteers and continues to develop the sport by working with schools, universities and local authorities. Funding also allows for orienteering courses and events for participants. Already the sustained support of the junior performance development group has proven successful with 32 per cent of the British potential squad comprising Scots.
The Scottish Sub Aqua Club has received £17,000 in sportscotland funding. The investment, of which £7,000 is Lottery funding, will go towards coaching and club and organisational development.
The club has approximately 2000 members and 83 branches. Its purpose is to promote the development of sub aqua diving and ensure safe practices are adhered to. sportscotland’s investment is directed towards coach education, particularly courses relating to health and safety. Currently an unincorporated body, the club is working towards incorporation later this year.
Mountain Leader Training Scotland has received £20,000 in sportscotland funding. The investment will go towards development of the organisation, which administers mountain training in Scotland. The contribution from sportscotland is imperative to its existence and allows the organisation to co-ordinate and monitor training and assessment of volunteers, teachers, commercial trainers and other leaders to take children and groups out into the Scottish countryside in a safe manner. The organisation continues to maintain links with key mountaineering groups in the UK, including the Mountaineering Council of Scotland.
Julia Bracewell, Chair, sportscotland said: “There’s no better time of the year to get outdoors and get active and sportscotland is pleased to support all kinds of sports – whether indoor or out-of-doors – in our bid to both increase participation across Scotland and improve the performance of our athletes.”