This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Sam Galbraith hits the target with near 20 per cent increase in sports funding
09/11/2000
The significant contribution that sport makes to Scottish life has been recognised with the biggest ever increase in sportscotland's grant-in-aid from the Scottish Executive, Minister for the Environment, Sport and Culture Sam Galbraith announced today.
Speaking during a debate on sport in the Scottish Parliament, Mr Galbraith said that developing sport in schools would be a priority for sportscotland. He said:
"Sport is an immensely valuable activity in its own right. As well as giving pleasure to millions, it is an increasing force in our economy and contributes to our sense of national identity and pride.
"But sport can be a key part of our attack on health problems, through developing physical fitness and activity. Studies have highlighted the potential of sport to give young people positive lifestyles and activities and so help us tackle the problem of youth crime. And links between sporting activity and our children's academic attainment are well recognised.
"That is why I am delighted to announce today a further major injection of funds for sport, to accelerate the pace of implementation of Sport 21, our vision of an inclusive sporting Scotland.
" Sportscotland will receive an extra £6m funding over the next three years, bringing their annual grant-in-aid to £12.5m over this period - an increase of nearly 20 per cent over the previous figure.
" Sportscotland will also be spending an additional £3m from the Lottery Sports Fund over the next three years, following a revised forecast of lottery income.
Mr Galbraith said he had asked sportscotland to use this additional £9m in three main areas:
- A major expansion of the Active Primary Schools programme currently being piloted;
- Further development of the School Sports Co-ordinator Scheme to put more focus on the school/club links and complement the funding for sport which will come from the New Opportunities Fund;
- A substantial investment in the 48 Social Inclusion Partnership areas in Scotland, to increase the numbers of people participating in sport who live in areas of economic and social disadvantage.
Mr Galbraith continued:
"Earlier this week, the Government published a consultation paper about the next round of New Oportunities Fund initiatives. Subject to this consultation, £87m will be available in Scotland to stimulate schemes which will encourage improved school sport facilities and the wider use of these in the community, and for schemes in which sport can be part of the wider strategy in the fight against youth crime."
He said:
"The best way to promote sport and its links with health and education is to work in partnership. Local authorities - working through schools, through their leisure and recreation services and in their work in deprived areas - make a major contribution to achieving our objectives for sport and culture. This increased national funding will complement local commitments, commitments helped by the significant additional funding for local authorities - announced by Jack McConnell in September - of 20 per cent over the next three years.
"I know that authorities share our priorities in sport - and in the wider areas of culture - and while it is for authorities to determine their own programmes, the additional funding they have will ensure that they can play their role fully."
He concluded:
"The Scottish Executive is committed to supporting the development of sport at all levels. We remain committed to a network of football academies across Scotland and I can announce today that £4m of lottery funding is being made available over the next three years. Further funding will be available soon when a new body in Scotland to succeed the Football Trust is established.
"And last week, of course, we submitted our bid to stage the 2009 Ryder Cup here in Scotland, the Home of Golf. But our bid was about more than bringing the world's greatest golfers to these shores - it was set in the context of a comprehensive strategy for the development of the sport and of golf tourism. We are glad to have the endorsement of both Colin Montgomerie and Tiger Woods for our bid."
"Scotland's sporting future is bright and by following the priorities above we can make sure it gets even brighter."
BACKGROUND
1. There are currently over 250 co-ordinator posts in Scotland approved for funding by sportsscotland. This represents well over half of the total of secondary comprehensive schools in Scotland. Plans are underway to encourage the remaining Local Authorities to bid into the programme. The Scottish Executive has pledged that every secondary school in Scotland will have a School Sports Co-ordinator by 2003. School Sports Co-ordinators are encouraged to develop links with staff at their associated primary schools in order to enhance sport provision
2. Active Primary Schools is a £450,000 pilot programme that stresses the importance of daily physical activity in primary schools. Currently operating in seven seven local authorities, the programme looks to improve opportunities in play, physical education and physical activity across the whole school.
3. Sport 21: Nothing Left to Chance is Scotland's strategy for sport. Sport 21 sets out three co-dependent visions for sport in Scotland - a country where sport is more widely available to all, where sporting talent is recognised and nurtured and which achieves and sustains world class performances in sport.
News Release: SE2900/2000
9 Nov 2000