Thursday 5 February 2009

sportscotland is committed to improving and developing Scotland’s stock of sports facilities and today announced an investment of £124,105 benefiting community sports facilities in Invergordon, Dunfermline and Dumfries & Galloway.

The investment, from sportscotland’s Sports Facilities Fund, will see enhanced sports facilities for Invergordon Football Club, Nethertown Bowling Club in Dunfermline and Penpont Community Council in Dumfries & Galloway.

Invergordon Football Club is set to benefit from an investment of £62,605 to upgrade their pavilion. The club’s current two team changing pavilion is in desperate need of upgrading and modernisation and the facility will provide two larger changing areas, official’s changing rooms, reception area and storage. In addition a new pitched roof will be installed with solar panels linked to a new hot water and underfloor heating system.

This successful club has been in existence for over 70 years and supports a number of teams from U12s to U19s to teams in the North Caledonian and Welfare Leagues. The upgraded facilities will assist with the future development of football in the local area with benefits for players, coaches and volunteers.

In addition, the pavilion is an extremely important resource for the whole community and will be used by other local clubs. In addition, Active Schools staff from Highland Council will be to utilise the facility as part of their activities development programme.

Part of the area around the facility in Invergordon has been identified as being in the worst 15% of deprivation areas in Scotland and football has always been an important social and fitness tool. With their future plans the club hopes to contribute to improving the health and well-being of all members of the community as well as developing their football training and coaching programmes.

Invergordon Football Club Chairman, Wattie Stewart, said: “Our pavilion is in critical need of attention, but with the support of the community, especially Invergordon and District Initiative, we have spent a lot of time carefully planning and developing this project and are now absolutely overjoyed with sportscotland’s award. It is the news we have been waiting for and means that all our improvement plans can now actually be delivered. It is a dream come true for the whole community and the future of football at Invergordon’s Recreation Park is now hopefully secured for another 70 years!”

Also receiving a sportscotland investment of £50,000 is Penpont Community Council in Dumfries & Galloway to assist with the construction of a multi-use games area at Gladstone Park in the village. It will be used for a number of sports including football, hockey, basketball and netball with specific times allocated to local schools. In addition Dumfries & Galloway Council plan to use the area for Active Schools activities and it will become a real focal point for the community with use by clubs and groups planned to encourage all ages and abilities to take part in sport.

Additionally Nethertown Bowling Club in Dunfermline is benefiting from a sportscotland investment of £11,500. The funding will see the construction of a new changing room with storage and locker space allowing the club to expand its membership and put in place an integrated junior development programme. The club’s activities are currently restricted by their existing facility, but the new development will see them able to provide coaching for local youngsters to meet the strong local demand for junior bowls.

Louise Martin CBE, Chair of sportscotland said: “sportscotland is committed to improving and developing Scotland’s stock of sports facilities. In addition, we believe that providing communities with good quality, accessible facilities is an essential element in developing grassroots sport in Scotland.

“We are pleased to be supporting these three great community projects in Invergordon, Dunfermline and Penpont with this investment of £124,105, which will widen sporting opportunities locally and increase participation in a range of sports.”
ENDS

• The £124,105 investment in sports facilities is made up of £62,605 of sportscotland funding from the Scottish Government and £61,500 from the sportscotland Lottery Fund.
• Between the 1 January and 31 December 2008 sportscotland has invested £7,090,470 million in sports facility projects of all shapes and sizes and benefiting the length and breadth of Scotland.
• The sportscotland Sports Facilities Fund has two strands: Community Facilities and Training & Competition Facilities.

sportscotland Sports Facilities Fund - January 2009

Project Title: Pavilion Upgrade/Refurbishment
Applicant: Invergordon Football Club (Highland)
Award: £62,605
Contact for Press: Wattie Stewart, Chairman
Tel: 07810 758396
Upgrade of existing two team changing pavilion, providing two larger player changing areas, official’s changing room, toilets, showers, reception area, storage and kitchen. Installation of new pitched roof and solar panels linked to new hot water and underfloor heating and full wall and roof insulation.

Project Title: Gladstone Park Multi-use Games Area
Applicant: Penpont Community Council (Dumfries & Galloway)
Award: £50,000
Contact for Press: David Manson, Fundraiser, Penpont Community Council
Tel: 07841 804812
Multi-use games area, approximately 40m x 30m, marked out for five sports with floodlights and fencing.

Project Title: Changing room and equipment room/lockers
Applicant: Nethertown Bowling Club (Dunfermline)
Award: £11,500
Contact for Press: Brian Hynd, Honorary Secretary, Nethertown Bowling Club
Tel: 07974 095832
Construction of insulated coated steel building comprising of changing/locker room, games space and storage.

Community Facilities Strand – three awards totalling £124,105