Sports clubs and community facilities across Scotland will benefit from £450k of investment from sportscotland’s Sport Facilities Fund to local partners, including Sport Aberdeen.

Eight projects are sharing £451,038, meaning much-needed investment in rural communities, areas of deprivation and for projects designed to make sport more accessible and inclusive. The investment has been made possible thanks to National Lottery players who raise £30 million each week for good causes across the UK.

Sport Aberdeen is receiving £26,474 for new floodlights at Northfield Outdoor Sports Centre. The total cost of the project will be £52,949, with the new floodlights covering three courts.

The floodlights will allow for play during the winter months at the recently refurbished courts. Sport Aberdeen is aiming to create a high-quality sport and physical activity hub for the community at Northfield. The refurbished courts have seen a high number of bookings since reopening and floodlights will allow for increased access and give more people the opportunity to play.

The LTA estimates that floodlights add 35% more playing time and can increase activity by up to 50%. The facility will be free to use for all school groups and youth coaching programmes will be developed.

Chief Executive of sportscotland, Forbes Dunlop, said:

“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.

“We are facing challenging times with significant financial pressures at all levels. But thanks to the continued commitment of our local partners, projects like this one in Aberdeen means more people will have an opportunity to become physically active and feel part of their local community.”

Mark Pain, Community Sport Manager, Sport Aberdeen: 

“Being able to access funding from sportscotland and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to install floodlighting has been transformational for the park’s tennis site in Northfield. 

“What was a crumbling, unused set of courts a couple of years ago has been regenerated into a high-quality community sports facility in a priority neighbourhood within the city.

“The addition of floodlighting will provide greater opportunities for year round access to local tennis opportunities, inspiring new players to take up the sport, regardless of age or previous experience.”

The aim behind the sportscotland Sport Facilities Fund is to support capital projects which are designed to create or improve the places where people take part in sport and physical activity in their local community.

Priority is given to 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.

More information on the Sports Facilities Fund can be found on the sportscotland website here.