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).
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.”
Dumfries and Galloway MP Russell Brown and Chair of Nithsdale Area Committee Ted Thompson have welcomed the news that local organisations are to receive funding from Big Lottery Fund Scotland to help celebrate the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Dumfries and Galloway Council are to receive funding for a project that will be part of Youth Beatz. A zone will raise challenges faced by Commonwealth young people, such as immigration and racism and use drama to explore these issues. Another section will showcase Commonwealth Games sports and an area dedicated to cuisine from the Commonwealth will be available. Isle Futures, a regeneration project in the Isle of Whithorn, is to receive funding for sports taster sessions and a celebratory event at the local village hall. 3 schools, Lochrutton Primary, Hardgate Primary and Springholm Primary, are to receive funding so they can hold programmes of activities exploring the histories and cultures of Commonwealth Countries, investigating the traditional sports played at the Games, as well as attending celebrations for the Queens Baton Relay. Pupils will also study Scotland’s place in the Commonwealth will be studied, with a focus on arts and heritage, finishing in a joint art project to create a permanent art display. The project will culminate in a joint Commonwealth Sports Day. The The Glenkens Community and Arts Trust Limited will use the funding to organise a number of Commonwealth activities to run alongside the ‘Scottish Alternative Games’, an annual event run by New Galloway Community Council celebrating traditional Scottish sporting games.
Commenting on the awards, Russell Brown said:
“It is great that these local organisations are able hold events celebrating the Commonwealth Games. It means that a number of local people will get to be part of the games especially with the sport taster sessions which will allow them to experience sports that they will have not have played before. It is easy to think that because the games are based in Glasgow, we are not involved but these projects should change that perception.”
“As well promoting the sporting aspect of the Commonwealth Games, these projects will also allow local people to explore the history and the culture of the Commonwealth which it is most welcome.”
Commenting on the award of £10,000 for a project at Youth Beatz, Nithsdale Area Committee Chair, Provost Ted Thompson said:
“The awarding of these funds underlines how Youth Beatz is not just about the concert. It gives local young people the opportunity to access to advice and support on health and education. The project that this funding will go towards will further that education as well as allow them to experience different cultures and sports from around the world.”
The Funding for D&G amounts are as follows
Youth Beatz £10,000 The project will be part of the free Youth Beatz event held in Dock Park, Dumfries. The event will celebrate the Games by adding sections to their usual event. A zone will raise challenges faced by Commonwealth young people, such as immigration and racism and use drama to explore these issues. Another section will showcase Commonwealth Games sports and an area dedicated to cuisine from the Commonwealth will be available.
Isle Futures £6,940 Isle Futures will celebrate sports and the Commonwealth Games through a series of sport tasters, competition and celebration, and encourage continued involvement in sport and positive health among the local community. The local community will be involved in taster sessions and the project will close with a celebratory event at the local village hall.
Lochrutton Primary, Hardgate Primary, Springholm Primary £3,966 Three primary schools in Dumfries and Galloway will offer a programme of activities exploring the histories and cultures of Commonwealth Countries, investigating the traditional sports played at the Games, as well as attending celebrations for the Queens Baton Relay. Scotland’s place in the Commonwealth will be studied, with a focus on arts and heritage, finishing in a joint art project to create a permanent art display. It will culminate in a joint Commonwealth Sports Day.
The Glenkens Community and Arts Trust Limited £2,200 The project aims to mark the 2014 Commonwealth Games coming to Scotland by providing opportunities for local people to experience and learn more about different cultures. It will organise a number of Commonwealth activities to run alongside the ‘Scottish Alternative Games’, an annual event run by New Galloway Community Council celebrating traditional Scottish sporting games.
