Council announces £25,000 support for sports travel
29/04/08
Aberdeen City Council has created a travel grant support scheme to assist sports and community groups who will now have to travel outwith the city to pursue their activities or training.
The £25,000 has been made available by the resources management committee in the wake of recent budget savings, which have required the closure of the Bon Accord Baths, the withdrawal of public sessions at Dyce Swimming Pool, and the temporary closure of the Linx Ice Arena.
The scheme is aimed at groups, organisations and individuals who previously used the facilities and now face travelling out of Aberdeen to pursue their sports or interests.
It is also aimed at city residents who meet the criteria for membership of the council’s Access to Leisure scheme, but are not eligible for travel entitlements provided under the Scottish National Entitlement Card scheme.
The £25,000 grant aid application scheme is designed to assist the groups and individuals with additional transport costs incurred by travelling to alternative venues which are essential to the continuation of their work.
Meantime, the Scottish Government has committed £5 million for a 50m swimming pool for Aberdeen, and Aberdeen City Council has committed £10 million in capital funding towards the project.
It is also committed to significant investment in both existing and future ‘fit for purpose’ provision, which includes a capital allocation of £1million for a major refurbishment of the Linx Ice Arena.
Who can apply?
- affiliated sports organisations representing groups or individuals previously using the facilities at Bon-Accord Baths, Linx Ice Arena or Dyce Swimming Pool;
- community organisations providing support for activity programmes/use of facilities within the defined catchment areas of the above affected facilities;
- talented individuals, not covered by the above categories, previously utilising affected facilities, who can demonstrate the support of a sports governing body, local sports council, Grampian Institute of Sport or involvement in regional/national coaching programmes;
- individual residents of Aberdeen City, not covered by the above categories, who meet the criteria for membership of Aberdeen City Council’s ‘Access to Leisure’ scheme but are not eligible for travel entitlements provided under the Scottish National Entitlement Card scheme.
How to Apply
- applications for assistance are to be submitted through completion of the council's Funding Application Pack which is available online at www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/sports or by contacting the Sports Enquiry Service, email, sport@aberdeencity.gov.uk, tel: 01224 814635.
If you have any queries regarding this, or any other news story, please contact Aberdeen City Council on: 01224 522000.
