Projects in Inverness will receive a share of nearly £4million in lottery funding being shared with 500 grounds around Scotland today.
The windfall means grassroots groups delivering everything from a skate park at Raigmore to a mini bus at Merkinch now get the green light to go ahead.
This community-based cash boost comes from National Lottery Awards for All Scotland which makes grants from £500 to £10,000 with funds raised by the National Lottery.
Community Action Raigmore Estate will receive £10,000. The group has secured funding for a toddler play area and skate park within the housing estate. It will use this funding to improve these sites by adding seating, a bike shelter, litter bins and park furniture.
Merkinch Community Centre Association, which offers a range of facilities for local people, will also receive £10,000. The group will use the funding to purchase a new minibus which will be used by centre users and the wider community.
In the same area of the city, Merkinch Partnership Ltd will get £8,720 towards the cost of a sessional worker. This organisation provides opportunities for people living in the local area to develop themselves through outdoor activities.
Announcing the funding, Martin Cawley, Big Lottery Fund director for Scotland, said: “This is a fantastic amount of National Lottery money, nearly £4 million, going to hundreds of groups, run by local people actively working to make their communities better places to live.”
Stewart Harris, Chief Executive, sportscotland, said: “At sportscotland, we believe in the power of sport and its ability to bring communities together.
“The almost £4million of National Lottery Awards for All Scotland funding announced today will make a huge difference to local groups and clubs with ambition to provide more and better opportunities to take part in sport and physical activity in the heart of their communities, and right across the country.”