sportscotland: Record annual investment figures for Scottish sport

Scotland’s national agency for sport, sportscotland, has today announced record annual investment figures to support the delivery of sport and physical activity.

Across 2023/2024 sportscotland will invest up to £36.7million in Scottish Governing Bodies of Sport (SGBs), local authorities and wider national partners – an 8.6% increase on the previous year and a record high for investment in core activities.

The annual funding will help SGBs deliver performance programmes, sports development programmes and operational costs including staffing as well as supporting local authority partners in the delivery of community and school sport through Community Sport Hubs (CSHs) and the Active Schools Network. Additional projects that prioritise inclusion will also be funded as part of the investment.

The overall funding increase includes a 3.5% staff investment uplift to help support local and national partners to provide productive jobs which meet the principles of Fair Work, and which make a positive contribution to our society, in line with Scottish Government policy priorities.

Sport Minister Maree Todd said: “We know sport and physical activity play a vital role in supporting physical, mental and social health, so I’m very pleased that this record investment into Scottish sport will support key partners to deliver programmes that help us achieve our vision of a country where more people are more active, more often.

“Extra investment to help partners fund staff pay rises during this cost-of-living crisis will help ensure that they can continue to deliver important work which I know can have a life-changing impact on people and communities.

“This funding will also help address the inequalities that exist in access to sport and physical activity which stop too many people from leading active lives.”

Chief Executive of sportscotland, Forbes Dunlop, said: “We want as many people as possible to experience the benefits of taking part in sport and physical activity in communities across the country. This record investment will play a significant part in increasing opportunities at all levels and will help create an active Scotland where everyone can benefit from being active.

“Our investment will also support an increased focus on inclusion and breaking down barriers to participation, with the aim of making sport enjoyable and accessible for everyone who wants to take part. We will continue to work with our local and national partners across the coming year to create opportunities to participate in sport and physical activity in communities across Scotland.”