Scottish Sports Association

Ministers have agreed to support the Scottish Sports Association (SSA) for new work to improve equality and participation in sport.

£70,000 funding for 2018-19 will see the organisation work to increase the representation of women and minority ethnic communities in sport and look at participation rates across all groups.

Sport Minister Aileen Campbell said:

“Our draft budget increases investment in sport, from getting people involved at the grassroots to elite performance.

“I recently met the SSA and representatives of the Parliament’s cross-party group on sport to discuss how we develop a sustainable future for the organisation. I have now identified an additional £70,000 to invest in the SSA to improve representation and participation in sport.

“This new funding will deliver specific outcomes from the SSA, such as boosting female and minority ethnic representation on the boards of sport governing bodies, and to provide direct support to our Women and Girls advisory board. The SSA will also look at the availability and accessibility of sports provision within local authorities to ensure we are doing all we can to improve participation even further.

“In addition, we will soon review how sports governing bodies of all sizes can best engage with the Scottish Government as we work to create the active, healthier Scotland that we all want.”

The Scottish Government’s draft budget for 2018-19 proposes increased investment of a £2 million for sportscotland, and a guarantee to underwrite any potential shortfall in National Lottery funding to sportscotland of up to £3.4 million.