Cash boost helps club see the light
NEW floodlights have been provided at Musselburgh Rugby Club thanks to a cash boost from sportscotland’s Sport Facilities Fund.
The club was among 18 projects across Scotland sharing £1,506,263 investment by sportscotland to develop existing facilities or create a new home for sport and physical activity.
Some £9,106 was received towards new LED floodlights which will help “future-proof ” the club’s facility. The floodlights were installed in January, with previous lighting restricting the amount of pitch that was usable.
Musselburgh RFC was described as “a strong community club with good links to the area’s Active Schools programme and a focus on the inclusion of women and girls into the sport”.
The investment was made possible by National Lottery players, who raise £30 million each week for good causes in the UK.
Blair Stewart, club vicepresident, said: “Musselburgh RFC is a progressive community club and we have been actively investing in our facilities with the help of sportscotland and other funders.
“Our upgraded lighting, which has been expanded to include our training area, will allow greater participation, helping us to accommodate our growing mini and youth sections, together with our ambition to grow women’s rugby at the club.”
Forbes Dunlop, chief executive of sportscotland, said: “The aim of the Sports Facilities Fund is to support sustainable and inclusive projects with their ambitions of using sport and physical activity to enhance the lives of their local communities.
“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.
“Projects like this one at Musselburgh RFC not only create opportunities for people to take part in sport and physical activity but can also provide a place for communities to come together.”
The Sports Facilities Fund prioritises projects that widen access to participation in local sport, particularly in rural areas or areas of deprivation, and for under-represented groups.
In addition to the investment, projects can benefit from the expertise of sportscotland’s facilities team to maximise the impact of their plans.