Over £3.8 million in National Lottery funds is being shared by almost 500 groups across Scotland. The windfall means grassroots groups delivering everything from wheelchair football to after-school holiday clubs and drama workshops to hip-hop dance sessions now get the green light to go ahead.
This community based cash boost comes from National Lottery Awards for All Scotland which makes grants from £500 to £10,000 with funds raised by the National Lottery.
Every Local Authority area in Scotland has a group that has been awarded funding today. For more details on where National Lottery funding is making a difference near you and a full list of awards.
Glasgow Gladiators Powerchair Football Club is just one of the 494 groups thanking National Lottery players today. Their grant of £10,000 means they can now buy a club owned football powerchair giving more disabled footballers the chance to try out and join in.
Taking time out from a busy training session Josh Millar, 17, from Wishaw, said: “I’ve been playing for nearly three years now and I love it. I have been a big football fan all my life and now I can play myself it gives me such a sense of freedom as well as fun. I had to fundraise really hard to buy my own chair as they are over £5,700 so I would really like to thank National Lottery players for giving more people the chance to play and take part in other sports.”
Kenny Munro, Treasurer, added: “Having a new football powerchair means we can offer other wheelchair users the chance to come along and try the sport. These chairs are really expensive so it can be difficult for people to just have a go. We’re also able now to offer our members the chance to take up the Paralympic sport of Boccia. The grant means we can buy new equipment and pay for hall hire. Both arms of the Club can now run for the next year and this money will make an incredible difference to us.”
National Lottery Awards for All Scotland awards grants to community, arts and sports groups on behalf of Big Lottery Fund, Creative Scotland and sportscotland.
Announcing the funding, Martin Cawley, Big Lottery Fund, Director for Scotland, said: “This is a fantastic amount of National Lottery money, nearly £4 million, going to hundreds of groups, run by local people actively working to make their communities better places to live. Meeting the Glasgow Gladiators players and seeing first-hand the enjoyment they get from their sport really brought home to me the difference that even the smallest amounts of money can make.”
Stewart Harris, Chief Executive, sportscotland, said: “At sportscotland, we believe in the power of sport and its ability to bring communities together.
“The almost £4million of National Lottery Awards for All Scotland funding announced today will make a huge difference to local groups and clubs with ambition to provide more and better opportunities to take part in sport and physical activity in the heart of their communities, and right across the country.”
Janet Archer, CEO at Creative Scotland said: “We are delighted to partner again with sportscotland and the Big Lottery Fund on National Lottery Awards for All Scotland. These vital awards from the National Lottery will increase access to the arts in communities across Scotland, improving quality of life and stimulating imagination and confidence through creative experiences.”
Applications are received on a rolling basis and can be received at any time. To find out what National Lottery Awards for All Scotland could do for your community visit our website (detail) or phone 0300 123 7110.
