The Daimler Foundation will receive £60,000, while Largs Thistle Community Football Club will benefit from £27,104 in funding.
Two Ayrshire facilities will benefit from sportscotland’s Sport Facilities Fund investment.
A total of eight sports clubs and community facilities across Scotland will share £451,038, a much-needed investment in rural communities, areas of deprivation, and for projects designed to make sport more accessible and inclusive.
The investment has been made possible thanks to National Lottery players, who raise £30 million each week for good causes across the UK.
The Daimler Foundation is receiving £60,000 to upgrade and extend its existing equestrian centre in Fenwick, just outside Kilmarnock, with the total cost set to be just over £160,000.
While Largs Thistle Community Football Club will benefit from £27,104 funding which will be used towards the total cost of floodlights, with the club providing £26,000 and the SFA providing £50,000.
The work at the Daimler Foundation will mean the charity’s facility will have a warm-up area, competition arena, training and therapy arena, a new judge’s box and enclosing the riding arena to protect riders and horses from the elements.
The Daimler Foundation is a charity whose aim is to improve accessibility to horse riding and to help ensure as many people as possible can experience the benefits from it, regardless of their ability or background.
They work with many people living with disabilities and other challenges, horse riding has been shown to have a positive therapeutic impact on people living with a range of conditions.
The foundation already have participants from some of the most disadvantaged areas of Glasgow and Ayrshire and support a lot of people with sensory disabilities and additional support needs.
The arena upgrade, particularly the addition of an indoor facility, will greatly increase the number of people they can support and how often existing participants can use the centre.
Chief Executive of sportscotland, Forbes Dunlop, said: “The physical and mental health benefits of sport are well documented, but equally important is the ability to create a space where everyone is welcome to participate at their own level.
“We are facing challenging times with significant financial pressures at all levels. But thanks to the continued commitment of our local partners, projects like this one in Fenwick means more people will have an opportunity to become physically active and feel part of their local community.”
Pauline Crossan, of The Daimler Foundation, said: “With the sportscotland funding we will be able to create an indoor riding facility for all, people of any age or background can benefit from equine-assisted learning. The people we work with are taken through several different lessons, learning how to look after the animals which develops confidence, builds communication skills and helps regulate their emotions.
“We help several children with learning disabilities like autism and ADHD and children who struggle at home and in mainstream education, and youngsters with anxiety and poor mental health.
“We also have several youth clients from residential children care homes who attend weekly sessions. Each learning programme is tailored for the individual. We now have a safe enclosed arena for these sessions to take place, with the unpredictable Scottish weather and reduced daylight hours in the winter, we really needed an indoor building to allow these sessions to continue regardless of the weather and to allow us to increase the number that we can help.”
The award will also see floodlights installed at Largs Thistle’s Barrfields Park, for the first time.
The installation will significantly increase the use of the synthetic pitch at Barrfields, resulting in the facility being used all year round and able to operate in darker hours.
The club have plans to expand their youth development programme and developing a stronger pathway to senior football. This will involve increasing their number of teams, training sessions and camps, with extended availability of the pitch key to these aims.
Chief Executive of sportscotland, Forbes Dunlop, said: “The physical and mental health benefits of sport are well documented, but equally important is the ability to create a space where everyone is welcome to participate at their own level.
“We are facing challenging times with significant financial pressures at all levels. But thanks to the continued commitment of our local partners, projects like this one in Largs means more people will have an opportunity to become physically active and feel part of their local community.”
Tiffany Irvin, of Largs Thistle, said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this funding from sportscotland’s Sport Facilities Fund.
“This support will make a significant difference to our club and community, allowing us to create more opportunities for people of all ages to get involved in sport. It’s a huge step forward in our mission to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone to play more sports.”
The aim behind the sportscotland Sport Facilities Fund is to support capital projects which are designed to create or improve the places where people take part in sport and physical activity in their local community.
Priority is given to projects that widen access to participation or allow people to progress further within their chosen sport locally by removing barriers, particularly in rural areas or areas of deprivation and for under-represented groups.
In addition to the investment, projects can benefit from the expertise within sportscotland’s facilities team to maximise the impact that their plans will have, ensuring they meet the needs of their local communities now and in the future.
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