Community sport across Scotland is to receive a boost thanks to over £1.5 million of investment from sportscotland’s Sport Facilities Fund to local partners, including new changing facilities at the Bught Park Stadium complex in Inverness.
The facility redevelopment is among 18 projects across Scotland to share a total of £1,506,263 from sportscotland to develop existing facilities or create a new home for sport and physical activity.
The project will receive £200,000 towards a new ten-team changing facility on an eight-pitch site. The facility will increase the quality of the support accommodation for many natural grass sport pitches.
Bught Park plays host to multiple sports from community level youth festival up to regional, national and international matches for shinty. The venue is currently used by shinty, football and American football clubs as well as local schools. The aim is for the facility to become home to up to 20 clubs and associations.
Bught Park is also home to many local, national and international events that are not sport related.
This investment has been made possible thanks to National Lottery players, who raise £30 million each week for good causes across the UK.
Chief Executive of sportscotland, Forbes Dunlop, said:
“The aim of the Sports Facilities Fund is to support sustainable and inclusive projects with their ambitions of using sport and physical activity to enhance the lives of their local communities. This investment would not be possible without National Lottery players who continue to raise vital funding for sport across Scotland.
“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.
“Projects like this one at Bught Park not only create opportunities for people to take part in sport and physical activity but can also provide a place for communities to come together.”
The Highland Council’s Inverness City and Area Leader Councillor Ian Brown, said:
“In a significant boost for sports infrastructure, we are delighted to be in receipt of a £200,000 award from sportscotland. This strategic investment will not only elevate the quality of support accommodation, but it also significantly enhances the overall sports landscape, reinforcing our commitment to fostering excellence in our sporting environment in the Highlands.”
Drew Hendry, MP, said:
“This award is a pivotal milestone in the development of Bught Park’s sports facilities, as we secure £200,000 investment from sportscotland towards a modern changing facility. This support will help us provide a first-class experience for athletes and reinforcing Bught Park’s standing as a premier sports destination.”
The Sports Facilities Fund prioritises 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.
