Kids quids in from crooks' cash

Kids quids in from crooks' cash<= br>

MORE than 11,000 young people throughout Scotland are to benefit from impro= ved sports facilities, including new 3G synthetic pitches, as part of the latest element of the Scottish Government’s CashBack for Communities scheme. The first 19 projects, part of the sports facilities strand of the scheme will also include a new sports pavilion, changing facilities, floodlights and drainage systems. They are to receive a share o= f over £1.3 million. Almost £700,000, the remaining funding from this = part of the CashBack scheme, will be allocated later. Speaking ahead of visiting Broxburn United, one= of the recipients of funding, Justice Secretary Kenny Mac= Askill said: “This Friday 13th is not unlucky for some. Nineteen projects fr= om Dumfries to the Western Isles will benefit from CashBack funding. Proceeds of crime money will be plo= ughed back into our communities to provide better football facilities for many youngsters. This funding will help improve public sports facilities across Scotland, further boosting Scottish sport and helping to build better, healthier communities.The current wintry weathe= r we are experiencing shows the importance of having access to synthetic pitches making it possible for them to play football even when the big clubs are sn= owed off. The vast majority of our young people are a credit to their communitie= s. But we want to do more to prevent young people getting into trouble in the first place. We are determined to show them that there is much more to life than getting into trouble and getting out of their heads on drink or drugs. Already through the many varied strands of our CashBac= k for Communities scheme we are giving thousands of our young people the oppo= rtunity to reach their potential and have real hope for their future.”

Scottish FA Chief Executive Gordon Smith said: "Today's announcement is about more than creating some new football facilities across Scotland, it is about giving more opportunities to our young people. Investing in top class facilities will encourage more young people to play football and to lead healthier, more active lives. This is something that, in the long term, our whole country will benefit from. Football is at the heart of so many = of our communities. The grants that have been made today will give the clubs a= nd associations the chance to thrive in the years to come. The fact that the m= oney has been seized from the very criminals who have blighted our communities m= akes the announcement all the sweeter."

Sports Minister Shona Robison said: “The = Cashback sports facilities fund is a great boost to Scottish sport and will build on the significant investment the Scottish Government already makes in this area. Cashback continues to offer our young people opportunities to get involved in physic= al activity and to make a meaningful contribution towards building better, healthier communities.”

West Lothian Council Leader Peter Johnston said: “I am delighted that= two very worthy sports projects in West Lothian will benefit from the Cashback for Communities scheme. The new synthetic pitches for both Broxburn United and Murieston United will ensure our you= ng people have more opportunities to keep active and healthy through sport.= 221;

Alan Cunningham, secretary for Broxburn United = Sports Club, said: "All Broxburn United's committ= ee and members are absolutely delighted with this superb award from the Scottish Government’s CashBack for Communities Sch= eme. This funding will be used to provide a 3G synthetic pitch at our Albyn Park community club= base, which will benefit all 600 club members, local schools and the local commun= ity. It is part of an overall plan to deliver greatly improved facilities for the club, and we have already received funding from both West Lothian Council and Sportscotland towards achieving our goal."

1. The main aim of the £2 million CashBack for Communities funding for sports facilities is to provide sports facilities i= n or around deprived communities with an emphasis on young people.

2. All non-professional football clubs were advised of the funding availabl= e by the various national football associations – Scottish FA, SJFA, SWFA, SAFA and SYFA. While football will be the main beneficiary it is anticipated that other pitch sports will also gain from this investment.

3. Aberdeenshire: Princess Royal Sports and Community Trust £100,000.= 00 - Upgrade of current astro pitch to 3G pitch.

Dumfries & Galloway: Dumfries Girls Football Club £35,000.00 R= 11; New drainage, new timber shed, floodlights and new 7-a-side pitch

East Dunbartonshire: East Dunbartonshire Council /Ross= vale FC £100,000.00 – Upgrade of existing full-sized pitch to 3G pit= ch

Edinburgh: Lochend Youth FC £50,000.00 &#= 8211; New 3G synthetic pitch

Fife: Kennoway Sports Association £100,00= 0.00 – Development of new sports pavilion at Cotlands= Park

Highland: Lybster Junior FC £25,056.70 &#= 8211; New male and female changing and storage facilities

Midlothian: Loanhead Miners Youth FC £63,083.00 – Com= plete renovation of Bayne Memorial Hall to create modern community sports facilit= y

North Ayrshire: Kilwinning Community Sports Club £100,000 – Changing accommodation with showers and referee chan= ging room.

North Lanarkshire: Eastfield AFC/Balloch Eastfield AFC/Carbrain AFC £95,000 – Upgrade of pavilion and pitch at Earls Hill Football Pitch

Perth & Kinross: Langlands Park Recreation Association £124,000 – 2-team changing pavilion with showers and toilets and referee’s room.

Renfrewshire: Gleniffer Thistle Boys Club £35,250.00 – Upgrade and redevelopment of = Abbotsinch Football Park

South Ayrshire: Caledonian Youth Club £53,000 – New astroturf facility with portable goals and nets

South Lanarkshire: Milton Rovers Youth FC £95,940.00 – Expansio= n of existing 5-a-side 3G pitch to accommodate two soccer sevens areas

South Lanarkshire: Symington Tinto AFC £25,496.00 – Refurbishme= nt of existing clubhouse, new floodlighting and extension of dressing room with fitness suite

West Dunbartonshire: West Dunbartonshire Council £50,000.00 – Construction of pvc dome to cover 3G pitch. New changing room

West Dunbartonshire:West Dunbartonshire Council= /Antonine FC £21,955.00 – Drainage system = for grass pitch

West Lothian: Broxburn United Sports Club £150,000.00 – 3G synthetic pitch at Albyn<= /span> Park

West Lothian: West Lothian Council/Murieston Un= ited FC £100,000.00 – Replacement of sand-filled carpet with 3G surf= ace

Western Isles: Lochs Sports and Recreation Club £40,000.00 – New changing facility with referees room

4. The Scottish Government’s CashBack for= Communities scheme is funded from the proceeds of crime. The ill-gotten gains of serious organised criminals are taken from them and reinvested in our communities to make a real difference to the lives of young people throughout Scotland.

5. Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has previo= usly announced millions of pounds funding to support football, rugby and basketb= all activities for youngsters in every part of the country as well as support f= or youth projects and arts and culture projects. With more initiatives to come, the various strands of the scheme are already giving our young people the opportunity to realise their potential and be all they can be.