Tag: sports facilities

UK Government launches thousands of new grassroots sports facilities to get more people active

23 sport sites in Scotland to benefit from £2m UK Government funding

  • UK Government reaffirms commitment to improving access to high quality facilities and increasing participation in grassroots sports in Scotland
  • Ongoing UK-wide £300 million capital investment continues to build capacity in underserved areas and provide for underrepresented groups

Grassroots sports facilities in Scotland will directly benefit from the latest £2 million investment in high quality multi-sport facilities from the UK Government, in partnership with the Scottish Football Association.

As part of the Government’s 2022/23 commitment, 23 sites in Scotland will see their facilities improved, significantly increasing the availability and access to high quality facilities for football and other grassroots sports.

A key priority for the Government is to level up access to community sports facilities in all parts of the UK, to help as many people as possible to get involved in sport and to deliver all of the mental and physical health benefits associated with active and healthy lifestyles.

The latest investment is part of the Government’s ongoing £300 million multi-year investment into grassroots multi-sport pitches across the UK by 2025 – over £20m of this will be invested in Scotland.

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said: “We are committed to levelling up access to sport which is so important for the nation’s physical and mental health.

“Today we are delivering 23 new and improved grassroots sports facilities across Scotland to continue to support, sustain and grow community and grassroots sport – so that physical activity is accessible to all, no matter a person’s background or location.

“We will continue to work with the Scottish Football Association to nurture the talent of the future whilst making sure local communities have the sporting facilities that they need.”

A central aim of the programme is to level up access to community sports facilities and invest in some of the most deprived areas in the UK, to give as many people as possible the opportunity to take part in sport. In order to achieve this, and to deliver access that every community needs, at least 50% of investment will be spent in underprivileged areas.

  • UK Government reaffirms commitment to improving access to high quality facilities and increasing participation in grassroots sports in Scotland
  • Ongoing UK-wide £300 million capital investment continues to build capacity in underserved areas and provide for underrepresented groups

Grassroots sports facilities in Scotland will directly benefit from the latest £2 million investment in high quality multi-sport facilities from the UK Government, in partnership with the Scottish Football Association.

As part of the Government’s 2022/23 commitment, 23 sites in Scotland will see their facilities improved, significantly increasing the availability and access to high quality facilities for football and other grassroots sports.

A key priority for the Government is to level up access to community sports facilities in all parts of the UK, to help as many people as possible to get involved in sport and to deliver all of the mental and physical health benefits associated with active and healthy lifestyles.

The latest investment is part of the Government’s ongoing £300 million multi-year investment into grassroots multi-sport pitches across the UK by 2025 – over £20m of this will be invested in Scotland.

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said: “We are committed to levelling up access to sport which is so important for the nation’s physical and mental health.

“Today we are delivering 23 new and improved grassroots sports facilities across Scotland to continue to support, sustain and grow community and grassroots sport – so that physical activity is accessible to all, no matter a person’s background or location.

“We will continue to work with the Scottish Football Association to nurture the talent of the future whilst making sure local communities have the sporting facilities that they need.”

A central aim of the programme is to level up access to community sports facilities and invest in some of the most deprived areas in the UK, to give as many people as possible the opportunity to take part in sport. In order to achieve this, and to deliver access that every community needs, at least 50% of investment will be spent in underprivileged areas.

Secretary of State for Scotland Alister Jack said: “We have seen some fantastic results in recent years from Scotland’s men’s and women’s football teams and we know much of this is a result of the hardwork and dedication put in by those working in grassroots football. I am pleased the UK Government is working closely with the SFA and providing funding for high quality facilities in Scotland.

“With much of the funding aimed at multi-sport facilities, deprived areas and underrepresented groups this investment will benefit many people across the country.”

Some of the facilities to benefit from the 2022/23 round of investment in Scotland include:

  • Forfar Community Football Trust in Angus has received £126,000 to convert their floodlights to LED
  • Dundee East Community Sports Club in Dundee has received over £58,000 to install floodlights and solar panels
  • Inverness Caledonian Thistle Community Development in Inverness has received over £157,000 for a grass pitch upgrade
  • Motherwell FC Community Trust in Lanarkshire has received over £180,000 for a replacement 3G pitch
  • Comhairle nan Eilean Siar in Lewis and Harris has received nearly £200,000 for a replacement 3G pitch
  • Nethercraigs Sports Complex & Denis Donnelly Park in Glasgow has received nearly £60,000 for new floodlights

A full list of the facilities to benefit from 2022/23 investment in Scotland can be found here. None of them are in Edinburgh.

40% per cent of the funding will be used to support multi-sport facilities, ensuring a wide range of sports are supported and helping to deliver benefits beyond football. The programme has a particular focus on increasing participation among underrepresented groups such as women and girls, and those with a disability.

Scottish FA Vice President Mike Mulraney, said: ““The Scottish FA’s grassroots strategy, Football for All, aims to increase participation at all levels by removing barriers and improving accessibility to the game.

“Helping clubs to improve their infrastructure and facilities is central to this strategy and we are grateful to the UK Government for their support.

“Clubs are the beating hearts of communities across Scotland and through partnerships like these, we will help reinforce the power of football locally and in doing so develop our national game.”

The UK Government, in partnership with the Scottish Football Association, continues to build on its £2 million for 2021/22, with a further £2 million confirmed today, and 40 sites in Scotland having benefitted to date.

Through the lifecycle of the grassroots multi-sport facilities investment programme which will run to 2025, Scotland will receive £20 million to help nurture the talent of the future.

£700 million Budget boost for UK’s sports and youth clubs

  • Chancellor expected to confirm £700 million to improve sports and youth clubs.
  • Up to 8,000 state-of-the-art sports pitches to be built or improved across the UK to ensure every young person has a chance to take up sport.
  • Hundreds of youth facilities to be built or refurbished across England and the National Citizen Service to continue helping young people to build confidence and leadership skills outside of school.

As part of the government’s drive to level up the country, local communities will benefit from a £700 million wave of investment in football pitches, tennis courts, and youth facilities to help build the next generation of young talent, the Chancellor is expected to announce next week.

Following on from England’s roaring success at the Euros (Eh? – Ed.) and Emma Raducanu’s US Open victory, Rishi Sunak is set to announce new funding to build or improve up to 8,000 state-of-the-art sports pitches in villages, towns, and cities across the UK, as well as supporting a range of projects, including new clubhouses and community buildings.

This sits alongside the government’s commitment to refurbish more than 4,500 tennis courts across Great Britain.   

Up to 300 youth facilities, which could include scout huts, youth centres and activity centres, will also be built or refurbished in the most deprived areas, and funding will be committed to continue the National Citizen Service until 2024/25 – which provides 16-17 years olds from all backgrounds the opportunity to mix with their peers outside of school.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak said: “We’re backing the next generation of Ward-Prowses and Raducanus, not just sporting stars, but inspiring young leaders. Sports can be a fantastic way for young people to make friends and learn skills they’ll use for the rest of their lives – leadership, teamwork, and determination.

“This funding will level up access to sport and social clubs for youngsters ensuring they can get together and play the games they love most.”

Nadine Dorries, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said: “I want every young person, no matter where they’re from, to have the chance to get the best start in life and achieve success.

“This £700 million investment is a downpayment on our commitment to open doors for those who have been shut out. It will give young people the pitches and clubhouses they deserve to reap the benefits of sport and youth groups and help level up the country for the next generation.”

Robert Sullivan, Football Foundation Chief Executive Officer, said: “This investment is welcome news for all those involved in grassroots football across the country.

“We know that playing on good quality facilities helps people get fitter, improves mental wellbeing, grows confidence and builds stronger relationships. This is all essential for individuals and communities as we emerge out of the Covid-19 crisis.

“With the government, Premier League and The FA’s investment, we have made plenty of progress in the last two decades, but there is still lots of work to do to ensure all communities across England get the standard of local sports facilities they need and deserve.

“This new funding will unlock the power of even more pitches to help transform people’s lives.”

Mark Bullingham, Chief Executive of The FA said: “This investment into grassroots football pitches and multi-sport facilities is fantastic news for communities throughout the country.

“It will help the nation get active as we emerge from the impact of Covid. This is an important part of the Government’s £550m commitment to transform our grassroots football infrastructure, which will have a massive social and economic impact”.

Tim Hollingsworth, CEO of Sport England said: ‘We welcome the government’s decision to continue to invest in our young people and provide vital funding to support the facilities we need to enable sport in our communities.

‘There has never been a more important time to get the nation active and give people the opportunity to play sport, no matter their background.’

The government is investing £173 million to fund the continuation of the National Citizen Service in England; £368 million to fund up to 300 youth centres across England; and £155 million additional funding is being provided to invest in multi-use sports pitches and facilities throughout the UK.

DCMS will also receive a further £20 million to invest in youth services in England and the government will set out more detail in due course.

This builds on the government’s commitment to sport, having announced £50m of UK sports facility funding in July, as part of our ambition to ensure that you are never more than 15 minutes away from a high-quality pitch; and is in addition to the £30 million investment to refurbish more than 4,500 tennis courts across Great Britain; and the £25 million provided by the Chancellor for grassroots sports facilities throughout the UK at Spring Budget 2021.

The UK Government’s Plan for Jobs is also helping young people find new opportunities and better paid work; the government recently announced a £500 million extension of its supported schemes – targeted at young workers – including extensions to the Kickstart scheme, Job Entry Targeted Support Scheme, and the £3,000 incentive payment for businesses to hire apprentices.

Local derby opens new pitches at Hunters Hall

Sports facilities at Hunter Hall Park in Edinburgh have received a boost thanks to the opening of two new third generation (3G) artificial grass pitch (AGP).
The park, can now boast some of the best sporting facilities in the local area and both pitches will be floodlit, allowing year-round use in late evenings and during the winter.

The new pitches were officially opened by Culture and Communities Convener, Donald Wilson on Friday 10 January. He was joined by representatives from Edinburgh Leisure and Scottish Football Association at a special opening ceremony.

Players from local teams Edina and Gold & Gray cheered the opening before kicking off a friendly match.

The football pitches offer outstanding amenities for the local sports clubs and the wider community. This phase of the redevelopment of the facilities in the area has also brought improved path network and overflow car park.

Funding from Section 75 contributions from local developments has enabled the Council to refurbish the existing 2G full size pitch and convert an existing grass pitch area to form a new 7-aside floodlit 3G playing surface.

This modern facility can be much more widely used, becoming a community hub for football in the area. The work was carried out by Allsports Construction & Maintenance Ltd.

Culture and Communities Convener Cllr Donald Wilson said: “I’m delighted that with our partners we have been able to provide these pitches which will offer year-round opportunities for both adults and young people to take part in sport.

“Not only will it help to increase participation in football and outdoor sport, it will also help the development of grassroots football in the area.

“As a council, we are committed to encouraging and enabling everyone to become more physically active and enjoy the associated benefits. We want sport to be as accessible as possible for our residents and our investment in fit-for-purpose sports facilities is helping to ensure that as many people as possible can get involved in sport throughout the year.”

An Edinburgh Leisure spokesperson said: “Making a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of the people of Edinburgh is at the heart of what we do.

“The upgraded 3G floodlit pitches will mean more opportunities for the local community to get involved in grassroots football.”

David Gold from Gold & Gray Soccer Academy added: “We are very fortunate to work in partnership with Edinburgh leisure and the Jack Kane Centre.

“The standard of Astro allows us to put on quality sessions that benefit the physical health and wellbeing of the community as a whole.”

Brian Gunn, committee member of Edina Hibs added: “The new Astro turf pitch facilities at the Jack Kane Sports Centre are just what Edina Hibs Football Club and the local sports community needed.

“The new facility will enable Edina Hibs, in partnership with Edinburgh Leisure and Jack Kane Sports Centre, deliver our core aim of providing team sports to help keep children healthy and happy in the local community and beyond.

Jennifer Malone South East Regional Manager, Scottish Football Association added: “It’s fantastic to see this new facility opening which in turn will hopefully see even more of the local community taking part in the game.”