Nineteen sports clubs and community organisations across the Highlands have received funding through the latest round of the Get Active Scotland programme, helping improve facilities, buy equipment and create more opportunities for people to get active.
The latest awards, administered by High Life Highland, will support projects ranging from community gyms and junior sailing to football, cricket, bowling, athletics and American football across the region.
Among the successful applicants is Knoydart Community Gym, where funding will help bring a new fitness facility to one of Scotland’s most remote communities.
Alice Lemkes, Founder of Knoydart Community Gym, said:
“With healthcare provision a boat journey away and with all the logistics and resource that entails building a gym on the Knoydart peninsula is going to make a big difference to this community.
“It will be a dedicated space to get strong, stay strong, and live well, whatever the west coast weather has in store for us!
“The community appetite for this has been huge and this grant means we can open our doors much sooner.”
Lybster Football Club will use its grant to improve toilet and shower facilities at its ground.
Manager Cameron Mackenzie said:
“As a club we’re delighted and grateful to receive this funding from High Life Highland and Get Active Scotland.
“It will make a real difference to our team by helping us improve our toilet and shower facilities for everyone who uses the facility.
“Funding like this is vital for rural community organisations like ours operating in areas of high deprivation.
“It allows us to continue developing facilities that benefit players, volunteers, supporters and the wider community.”
Highland Wildcats, the youth programme of Inverness Blitz, has secured funding to purchase new protective helmets for young players.
Head Coach Ben Senior said:
“This funding has made a significant difference to our club by allowing us to purchase new football helmets that will protect young people for many years to come.
“The helmets aren’t just an investment in equipment, they’re an investment in the safety and confidence of our players.
“By increasing our supply of modern protective equipment, we’re able to remove financial barriers for families, welcome more young people into the sport, and ensure they can enjoy all the physical and social benefits that being part of the Highland Wildcats provides.
“We are incredibly grateful to Get Active Scotland and High Life Highland for helping us create more opportunities for young people across the Highlands.”
Other successful projects include new equipment for Aviemore Bowling Club’s intergenerational bowling initiative, support for Nairn Sailing Club’s junior dinghy sailing programme, and funding for clubs involved in rowing, cricket, shinty and athletics.
Darren Reid, Head of Sport and Physical Activity at High Life Highland, said:
“We are very grateful to the London Marathon Foundation for the financial investment in Highland, it is making a massive difference to local clubs and organisations and in turn this is having a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of people living here.
“Since the start of the fund we have now awarded 85 clubs and community groups a funding total of £331,036.70 across the region, helping to get more people more active, more often.”
Community groups can apply for grants of up to £5,000 through Get Active Scotland, with the next application deadline set for 17 August.
The latest successful Highland recipients are 1st Avoch Sea Scouts, Aviemore Bowling Club, Boys’ Brigade Highland Battalion, Ewen’s Room, Glenurquhart Bowling Club, Inverness Blitz, Inverness Harriers AAC, Inverness Netball Club, Inverness Rowing Club, Kingussie Camanachd Club, Knoydart Community Gym, Loch Broom Sailing Club, Lybster Football Club, Nairn Bowling Club, Nairn Sailing Club, Northern Counties Cricket Club, Skye Sailing Club, The Den Youth Café in Gairloch and Thurso Bowling Club.
To find out more and apply, visit: Get Active Highland Fund – Sport
