Sportscotland to spend £6m on 50 Community Sports Hubs

Scotland'>Sportscotland will invest £6m (US$8.5m, €7.7m) to establish 50 new Community Sports Hubs across the country by 2020.

The national sports quango will plough £1.5m (US$2.1m, €1.9m) of its National Lottery funding per year over the next four years, as it attempts to grow its existing 153 hubs to 200.

Since 2010, sportscotland has spent £7.5m (US$10.6m, €9.6m) launching 153 hubs, with at least one in each of the nation’s 32 local authorities. By the end of 2020, the body will have spent £13.5m (US$19.1m, €17.2m) on the centres.

Established as one of sportscotland and the Scottish government’s key Legacy 2014 commitments, following Glasgow’s hosting of the Commonwealth Games, the Community Sports Hubs were designed to develop and grow the number of sports and physical activities in the local communities.

Sportscotland’s 2014/15 results revealed that 1,000 affiliated clubs with nearly 115,000 active members were delivering sessions at the hubs. The target of 50 per cent of hubs being established in schools has also been surpassed (55 per cent).

Stewart Harris, sportscotland chief executive, said the Community Sports Hubs were a “great legacy success story”.

“Community Sports Hubs offer an exciting and innovative approach to the development of sport in local clubs and communities across Scotland,” added Scottish sports minister Jamie Hepburn. “They provide an excellent focus for local communities to engage in a more active and healthy lifestyle – a key part of our 2014 Legacy plan.”