WIREDGOV

With less than 1,000 days to go before the 2014 Commonwealth Games draws near, communities across the country are being encouraged to apply for Lottery funding to create their own sporting legacy.

Through the Commonwealth Games Legacy Fund, 2014 Communities, Scots of all ages are being introduced to a wide range of activities and can enjoy the benefits of a healthier lifestyle as 76 grants worth £127,656 are made to a wide range of local sporting projects across the country.

Big Lottery Fund Scotland Committee Chair, Alison Magee, said: “2014 Communities is designed to increase physical activity and volunteering across Scotland as is reflected in the great range of projects we are funding today. Whether it’s providing yoga classes for young mums in Glasgow or encouraging young people in Central Scotland to be more active through orienteering these projects will all help to bring greater well-being across Scotland in the lead up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.”

Yoga is the exercise credited with helping to shape the minds and bodies of such celebrities as Madonna and Cameron Diaz. Now women in the south side of Glasgow will have the chance to try it for themselves and take part in a new Monday yoga class run by the Feel Good Women’s Group in Govanhill.  The group has been running a popular fitness class on a Thursday morning and wanted to run a more gentle exercise class, aimed particularly at young mothers in the area.  

A crèche facility will be available for the young mums whilst they are exercising and the group are hoping to attract new participants by advertising in nearby nurseries and play groups.  The grant of £1,911 will cover the costs of a fitness instructor, crèche costs and venue hire.

Senior Alternatives, based in Paisley, will use their grant of £2,000 to organise a special two day “Olympic Games” for older people with disabilities in the area.  Events will include croquet, bochia, welly throwing, ten pin bowling and playing giant versions of board games.  The games have been especially designed so every participant can join in and take part in at least one event.

Based in Dunblane, Forth Valley Orienteers, will offer young people in Falkirk, Doune and Callander the chance to take part in an orienteering course, in the local area they are familiar with. Highly detailed maps of each area are needed and these need to be specially produced.  The grant of £2,000 will fund a mapping service, coaching costs, two head torches and a tent so everyone can get involved.

Aberdeen Schools Rowing Association has been providing coaching in rowing and sculling for local young people for almost 40 years. Now, thanks to a grant of £2,000, they will be able to deliver two blocks of taster sessions for local young people during school holidays. During each of the sessions they hope to introduce up to 20 new people to the sport.   The club will also be able to put six of their volunteer coaches through the Royal Yachting Association’s Level 2 Power Boat Course.  

Further Information

Lorna McNiven, BIG Scotland Press Office, 0141 242 1451 / lorna.mcniven@biglotteryfund.org.uk
For more information about Big Lottery Fund or 2014 Communities please call the information team on: 0300 1237110 enquiries.scotland@biglotteryfund.org.uk, text phone 0845 602 1659
Full details of Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available on the website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

Notes to Editors

2014 Communities is a micro grants programme, offering local sports clubs, voluntary and community organisations, community councils and schools grants of £300 to £2,000 to support and stimulate grass roots involvement in sport and physical activity. In year two of the programme, Big Lottery Fund has £1 million to award in grants. 2014 Communities will continue to operate up to the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014, but what we focus our funding on and how we deliver our funding may change based on learning leading up to 2014.

2014 Communities is about building a legacy of well-being before and beyond the Commonwealth Games. The programme aims to encourage more people to take part or volunteer in sport or physical activity as well as encourage greater community cohesion in the run up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

The Big Lottery Fund (BIG), the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding, is responsible for giving out 46% of the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery.

BIG is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since June 2004. The Fund was formally established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.

Since the National Lottery began in 1994, 28p from every pound spent by the public has gone to good causes. As a result, over £26 billion has now been raised and more than 330,000 grants awarded across arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment.

The Scotland Committee, led by Chair, Alison Magee, has been making Big Lottery Fund decisions on Scottish projects since March 2007. As well as taking devolved decisions on Lottery spending, the Committee has and will continue to play a strategic role in the future direction of BIG in Scotland.  

The Big Lottery Fund is investing in Scotland’s communities through its Investing in Communities portfolio as well as the small grants schemes Awards for All and 2014 Communities