Scotland: National Rural Network
Connecting Rural Scotland - Promoting Rural Growth

Name of fund: sportscotland Sports Facilities Fund

Brief Description of Fund

sportscotland's Sports Facilities Fund invests funding into the provision of new or upgraded sports facilities. The School and Community Sport Facilities strand covers the provision or upgrading of sports facilities for community use.  

What activities does it fund?

• The provision, extension or upgrading of playing facilities and changing accommodation
• The provision of a meeting room(s) and some social space within a sports facility where the key project outcomes depend on these elements.
• Floodlighting to playing facilities (including natural grass training areas)
• Storage facilities for playing equipment
• The purchase of major items of non-personal equipment
• Upgrading, or in some cases the replacement, of existing swimming pools, sports halls and pavilions built before 1980. 

What can't be funded

• Projects with a value less than £10,000 including VAT
• All repairs, renewals, replacement and maintenance
• Purchases of buses, vans and the like
• Bars, dining rooms, dedicated social areas and associated spaces
• Bedroom/residential accommodation including caretaker's flats
• Personal equipment
• General sports equipment not having a life expectancy of more than 7 years
• Spectator accommodation
• Works undertaken solely to comply with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995

You can get more information on eligibilty here.

How much funding is available?

From 1 April 2010 sportscotland will operate two separate application processes under the Sports Facilities Fund, which will be determined by the value of the project.

• For projects of up to £100,000 the Small Projects Fund can offer up 100% funding in exceptional circumstance to a maximum of £50,000. There is a quick a single stage application process to make it easier and quicker to apply.
• Where the project cost is over £100,000 generally 50% of costs can be met. However, for projects in or serving specific regeneration or rural areas funding can be up to 70% of the eligible project cost.  75% can be applied for community sports hubs. There is a two stage application process.

Examples of projects that have received funding

• Strathdearn community in Highland received £66,000 to build a covered all-weather pitch suitable for a range of sports.
• Nethertown Bowling Club near Dunfermline was awarded £11,500 to contruct a new locker room and storage.
• Shiskine Golf and Tennis Club on Arran recieved £130,00 to build a new clubhouse

Who can apply?

Public bodies, voluntary sports clubs, area sports sssociations, charitable trusts, playing field associations, youth and uniformed organisations and community associations and educational establishments.

Is there a deadline?

Applications to the Small Projects Fund can be made at any time with decision making rounds every two months.  

Stage 1 applications will be assessed on a monthly basis. If the project is advanced to Stage 2 sportscotland will write giving dates for submission of your application. The process takes between two and three months from date of submission to the date of the letter of notification of decision.

Where can I find out more?

You can find out more on the sportscotland website

Who do I contact?

 sportscotland

Doges, Templeton on the Green

62 Templeton Street

Glasgow

 G40 1DA

 Tel 0141 534 6500