sportscotland investment in community sports facilities
Thursday 12 October 2006
Sports Minister Patricia Ferguson today welcomed the news that sportscotland is continuing its quest to improve Scotland’s sports facilities with an investment of nearly half a million pounds from its Building for Sport programme. The focus for this investment is the creation of new all-weather pitches and quality changing facilities which sportscotland recognises as essential for the development of sport at grass roots level.
This investment of £489,253, of which £212,175 is Lottery funding, will see seven projects across Scotland benefit.
Ms Ferguson said: “We know that participation in sport and physical activity improves health, develops self-confidence and improves quality of life.
“We are committed to ensuring that everyone has access to a sport through a diverse range of opportunities, and by providing communities with modern facilities of a high standard these projects will go a long way to helping us achieve that.”
One of the projects receiving an award of £95,000 is Bonnyton Thistle Football Club in Kilmarnock. The award will assist in the creation of a new floodlit all-weather training and playing surface adjacent to the club’s home pitch. The new training area will allow the club to expand its existing membership and cater for a full range of teams from under six up to under 19 and female football. In addition players will be able to train at the club’s home base, rather than using a number of pitches across East Ayrshire. Some 35% of club members come from the neighbouring SIP area, and the provision of this new training area will see these young people benefit from a tailor-made facility.
The club have been working closely with Scottish Football Association (SFA) to develop the club and youth football within the local area and a number of their coaches have attended SFA-run coaching courses to improve their skills. There is also a proven track record of success at the club, with the under 19s team winning the Scottish Cup twice in the last 10 years. Also a number of their players have made the progression to senior level including Derek Stillie who is currently goalkeeper for Dundee United and John Robertson who plays for Partick Thistle.
Ian Higgins, President, Bonnyton Thistle Football Club said: “This award will enable our club to go forward instead of standing still. It gives us a fantastic opportunity to expand by increasing our ability to deliver quality coaching sessions to our existing membership as well as the new younger teams that our new facility will eventually bring on stream. This in turn will hopefully continue the success of our existing teams and as well as the new ones.
“We need to expand all aspects of our club to include new coaches and volunteers to work within the parameters of the SFA pilot scheme ‘Quality Mark’, which our club is close to completing. We would like to give particular thanks the Klin Group and East Ayrshire Council for all their support and also Richard Wilson, the SFA Regional Manager for the South West, for his assistance in helping put the project together.”
Julia Bracewell OBE, Chair, sportscotland said: “Quality, accessible facilities are vital if sport is to thrive in Scotland. There needs to be the right quality and mix of facilities to encourage people in their local communities to participate in a range of sports, on a regular basis, as well as supporting those with aspirations to compete at a higher level.
“sportscotland is making considerable progress in arresting the loss of playing fields and we are pleased to be supporting communities from the Highlands to East Ayrshire with this investment of £489,253, improving pitches and changing facilities to meet their local needs and priorities.”
- Launched in March 2004, the Building for Sport Programme (BfS) is divided into two strands: Community Facilities and Training and Competition Facilities.
- Applications for the Community Facilities Programme covers the provision or upgrading of facilities for the local community.
- The Training and Competition Facilities Programme concentrates on the provision or upgrading of centres designated as a national or regional facility by the relevant national governing body for sport.
sportscotland Building for Sport Programme - October 2006
Community Facilities Strand
Bonnyton Thistle Football Club (Kilmarnock)
Project Title: All weather training and playing surface with floodlighting
Award: £95,000
Contact for Press: Ian Higgins, President, Bonnyton Thistle FC
Tel: 07786 706136
Creation of a new all-weather training and playing surface with floodlighting.
Argyll & Bute Council
Project Title: Tarbert Community Sports Field
Award: £124,210
Contact for Press: Argyll & Bute Council Press Office
Tel: 01546 604276
The construction of a 59m x 39m third generation synthetic grass pitch with
perimeter fencing and floodlights.
Stirling Council
Project Title: Ladywell Park Pavilion, Bannockburn
Award: £93,850
Contact for Press: Fiona Fulton, PR Officer, Stirling Council
Tel: 01786 443361
Creation of new two team changing pavilion with referee’s room, club room and disabled access facilities.
Farr Community Hall Association (Inverarnie Farr)
Project Title: Changing Room Facility
Award: £57,868
Contact for Press: David Henderson, Treasurer, Farr Community Hall Association
Tel: 01808 521244
Construction of new changing accommodation for two teams of 16 players and fitness studio.
Maryculter Community Hall Association (Aberdeenshire)
Project Title: New Changing rooms
Award: £41,640
Contact for Press: Leslie Paterson, Treasurer, Maryculter Community Hall
Association
Tel: 01224 241514
Provision of two new changing rooms with referee’s room.
L K B United (Lochgelly, Fife)
Project Title: Violet Park Facility Project
Award: £68,685
Contact for Press: Jeanette Hindley, Secretary, L K B United
Tel: 07944 465244
Construction of two team changing unit with kitchen and disabled access facilities.
Arbroath United Cricket Club
Project Title: New concrete based bowling lanes and nets
Award: £8,000
Contact for Press: Paul Elliot, Junior Development Officer, Arbroath United
Cricket Club
Tel: 01241 876448
Construction of two additional concrete bowling lanes with woven batting
and bowling matting within a secure netting framework.
7 awards totalling £489,253