Cash boost for swimmers
Money will help club to compete
Bellshill Sharks Amateur Swimming Club is making a splash thanks to a £500 award from Scottish Roads Partnership’s Good Neighbour Fund.
The club, dedicated to developing the skills of talented young swimmers from eight to 18 years, is the latest community group to benefit from the funding initiative set up to support communities living in close proximity to the M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements Project.
Scottish Roads Partnership (SRP), the company responsible for delivering the £500m upgrade of the M8, M73 and M74 motorways on behalf of Transport Scotland, launched the Good Neighbour Fund in June, with a special £1000 Summer Bonus.
The Bellshill Sharks will use the cash injection to help fund their entry into a swimming competition in Sheffield on September 25.
The money will go towards the costs to enable 35 young swimmers to participate in the forthcoming Sheffield Teaspoons Meet, giving them the opportunity to compete against some of the top swimmers south of the border.
The youngsters will take part in up to five swims per day over the course of the two day competition.
Club secretary Lorna Carlyle, said: “By competing in this meet, the squads can focus on increasing personal best times to be used for other galas.
“It will give them the opportunity to improve performance, develop new skills and confidence particularly in our young swimmers, and develop a sense of team spirit.
“Due to cost constraints, the opportunity to compete away from home doesn’t come around very often.
“This funding will assist each child with the cost to enter the competition which is an additional cost on top of monthly training fees.”
SRP General Manager, Gabriel Valtuena-ramos, said: “We’re delighted to be able to contribute to local community-based projects through our Good Neighbour Fund while construction works are ongoing and I’d like to congratulate the Bellshill Sharks on their successful application.”
SRP has set aside a total of £15,000 to offer grants of up to £500 to local groups and organisations through the Good Neighbour Fund.
The initiative was set up by Scottish Roads Partnership (SRP), Ferrovial Lagan Joint Venture and Amey, the consortium delivering the £500 million project to upgrade Central Scotland’s motorway network.
This summer, the Good Neighbour Fund announced a £1000 Summer Bonus and there is still time to apply for the chance to double the £500 grant.
Applications for the Good Neighbour Fund £1000 Summer Bonus must be received no later than August 31. Applications received after that date will still be considered for grants of up to £500.
For more information regarding funding criteria and an application form, email info@ scotroadspartnership.co.uk or call us on 0800 042 0188.