£200,000 cash boost to go get fit

Jul 1 2009 by Andrew Newport, Paisley Daily Express

TWO Renfrewshire groups trying to encourage kids to stay fit and healthy have picked-up nearly £200,000 from the Scottish Government Third Sector funding.

The Go Country group from Renfrew – which provides outdoor activities for disadvantaged groups – was offered £93,495 to extend its services.

And the Scottish Sports Futures – which promotes the importance of attitude and fitness to young people in Renfrewshire as well as Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee, Stirling, Glasgow and Edinburgh – is to recieve £91,088.

The cash handouts from Third Sector groups, otherwise known as charities and voluntary organisations, came from a £12million jackpot and were announced by Enterprise Minister Jim Mather.

He said: “Scotland’s Third Sector has the unique ability to connect with vulnerable people and create employment opportunities – something we must take advantage of in an economic downturn.

“Nineteen organisations have now received support from the new Third Sector Enterprise Fund, created as a result of the Scottish Government’s decision to increase Third Sector funding in Scotland by 37 per cent.

“This will help these organisations play an important role in helping to position Scotland’s economy for a strong recovery.”

Ian Reid, CEO and Founder of Scottish Sports Futures, said: “This new Government initiative will enable us to look at ways of diversifying our income streams.

“In particular we will be inviting the active participation of the private sector in developing the scope and reach of our programmes and together helping build a Safer, Stronger and Healthier Scotland.”