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More local groups from across Scotland will be holding their own 2014 Games inspired events, thanks to the latest awards from the National Lottery Celebrate programme totalling £1/2 million. Celebratory parades, community concerts and school sports festivals are just some of the activities that will be taking place across Scotland as 2014 Games fever grips the nation.

Download a full list of all Lottery funded Celebrate projects receiving funding 

Announcing the funding to 74 groups totalling £503,113, Big Lottery Fund Scotland Chair, Maureen McGinn said: “As the Commonwealth Games draw closer we have been delighted by the fantastic response to the Celebrate programme. Many of yesterday’s awards enable local communities to celebrate the Queen’s Baton's journey across Scotland, while even more support a diverse range of arts, sport and heritage projects. Every local community across Scotland should be able to take part in this landmark sporting event, and I am pleased that Celebrate provides the opportunity to do so.”

They may be hundreds of miles away from Glasgow but the people in Shetland will also be celebrating this summer as Fetlar Developments Limited prepares to host its own Commonwealth Games themed events from Monday 28th July until Saturday 2nd August. With an award of £6,120 the project will bring the community together to watch the Games on a big screen, as well as hosting a fun run, cross island bike ride, duck race and geocache treasure hunt. The weeklong festival will culminate in a large celebratory event, featuring dance, music and food from different commonwealth countries.

Robert Thomas, Development Worker, Fetlar Development Worker, said: “Fetlar Developments Ltd is very pleased to have been offered a grant from the National Lottery Celebrate fund. The event and activities will have a large impact on a small remote community and we are looking forward to being part of the Glasgow games and the celebrations."


In Argyll and Bute, local people and visitors to the Isle of Colonsay will enjoy a community celebration on 2 August. Colonsay Community Development Company receives £3,420 to host a Commonwealth Games event with a range of traditional sports, as well welly-wanging, tug of war and haggis hurling. Local volunteers will also prepare dishes from a variety of Commonwealth countries and a celebration evening will feature traditional music from Commonwealth countries. 

Gavin Clark, Chairman, Colonsay Community Development Company, said: “This award will enable our community to come together and share in the Commonwealth Games celebrations. Residents and visitors alike will have the opportunity to take part in sports and games, as well as tasting foods from around the Commonwealth and enjoying music from a local band at an evening ceilidh. We are very much looking forward to this very special community event on 2nd August, and extend thanks to the Celebrate fund for helping us to make it happen."  

The Disability Community based in Glasgow receives £6,300 to involve local people with disabilities in Commonwealth Games themed activities. As part of their meal delivery service they will provide people with meals from a variety of Commonwealth countries.

Madonna Maynes, Adult and Youth Coordinator, the Disability Community, said: “With the support of the Celebrate programme our staff and volunteers will be able to bring the energy and joy of the Commonwealth Games to those that may otherwise miss out.  We will be holding a three week programme of Commonwealth Games themed activities for members in our social clubs and we will also be taking the games to disabled, aged and vulnerable people in their homes through our Cook’n’Care meal delivery program.  Celebration boxes created by our younger members will be given to our older service users – connecting them to the excitement of life in Glasgow while the Games are on.”
 
Age Concern Glenrothes meanwhile receives £4,300 to organise a range of events for older people to get involved in the Commonwealth Games buzz while the Sunny Govan Media Group receives £10,000 to provide training and support to their volunteers during their Commonwealth Games daily broadcasts. 

Celebrate has been developed by the Scottish Lottery Distributors Forum (SLDF) which is made up of all four Scottish Lottery Distributors, Big Lottery Fund, Creative Scotland, Heritage Lottery Fund and sportscotland.


For more Press and Media Information contact: Landa Rolland Communications Manager 

For more information about Celebrate: Go to our website www.celebrateit.org.uk

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Notes to editors

• Celebrate is a £4.5 million joint awards programme from the four Scottish Lottery distributors: Big Lottery Fund, Creative Scotland Heritage Lottery Fund and sportscotland
• The programme closed to applications on 30 May and the last grants will be awarded by August 2014.
• Celebrate allows communities across Scotland to apply for up to £10,000 to organise events that celebrate the 2014 Commonwealth Games through arts, heritage, sports, community and local celebrations or events that celebrate the people places and culture of the commonwealth. 
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