WIREDGOV

With less than 100 days to go to the Commonwealth Games, communities across Scotland will be holding their own 2014 Games inspired events thanks to £1.1 million of National Lottery funding announced today (28 APRIL). 

A full list of projects to be awarded is available here

Announcing today’s investment, from the Celebrate fund, Big Lottery Fund Scotland Chair, Maureen McGinn said: “I am delighted to see the wide range of projects benefiting from today’s Celebrate funding.  From community arts and dance activities to community baton relays and sports taster sessions, these projects will bring together people to enjoy a range of local community events. It is exciting to see so many groups across the country capture the spirit of the Commonwealth Games and I wish them all every success as they get set to celebrate in their own unique way.”

The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society (RSCDS) will use a grant of £10,000 to organise a 24 hour ceilidh and encourage participation in Scottish Country Dancing across Scotland.

Elizabeth Foster, Executive Officer of RSCDS, said: “We are delighted to receive a £10,000 grant from Celebrate. As part of Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme, running alongside the Commonwealth Games, the RSCDS and Get Scotland Dancing have created a 24-hour Ceilidh initiative for global participation. The Commonwealth (People’s) Ceilidh is for everyone: all abilities, all ages; all cultures.

“The Celebrate grant has been made available to encourage people to take part from across Scotland and will be used to support the RSCDS Branch and Group Network to organise as many Commonwealth Ceilidhs as possible throughout the country. Most Ceilidhs will begin at 1930 local time on Saturday 21 June. People can find out more and get involved at atwww.commonwealthceilidh.org.”

Children's charity, Variety, has been awarded £7,590 to host an athletic event for children and young people attending special educational needs schools across Scotland, giving them the chance to be part of a large sports festival to celebrate the Games.

Youth Beatz in Dumfries has been awarded £10,000 to celebrate the Games by adding new elements to their annual event which will include a zone to challenge issues faced by Commonwealth young people, such as immigration and racism, and use drama to explore these topics.

Bright Night International will use a grant of £10,000 to take their Commonwealth Youth Circus to Elgin. The Circus features young people from Scotland and the Commonwealth and performs physical activities closely related to Commonwealth sports.

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.

Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 0141 242 1415
Out of hours media contact: 07823 552 889
Website:www.celebrateit.org.uk 
Twitter:@CelebrateitScot  #celebrateitscot
Facebook:www.facebook.com/CelebrateItScotland 

Notes to editors

• Celebrate is a £4 million joint awards programme from the four Scottish Lottery distributors: Big Lottery Fund, Creative Scotland Heritage Lottery Fund and sportscotland
• Celebrate will allow communities across Scotland to apply for up to £10,000 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.