Falkirk Rugby Club: Club in £100,000 funding boost from sportscotland

Falkirk is one of nine projects across Scotland to receive investment from sportscotland to develop their facilities or create a new home for sport and physical activity.

The club has received £100,000 of investment to upgrade their existing pavilion to provide a more inclusive six-team changing area and gym. The new pavilion also includes two bespoke changing rooms for officials.

The improved facilities will support the community engagement at the club, providing a more attractive environment and more and better opportunities for participation.

The rugby club is part of the local community sports hub and runs a successful school of rugby programme as well as a youth rugby section, The Kelpies, in partnership with Grangemouth RFC and other local clubs.

The aim is to provide a positive rugby experience, especially for women and girls, and for people from disadvantaged backgrounds in the local community.

The club has been identified by Scottish Rugby as a potential development hub location from which to support player and coaching pathways.

This investment has been made possible thanks to National Lottery players, who raise £30 million each week for good causes across the UK.

Chief Executive of sportscotland, Forbes Dunlop, 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.

“Despite a challenging financial climate, Falkirk has demonstrated real commitment to ensuring that more people in Falkirk will have an opportunity to become physically active and connected to their local community."

Mark Crawford, Vice President at Falkirk RFC added: “We’re profoundly grateful to sportscotland, not only for their keystone funding of the project, but also for the extensive support and constructive challenge the team gave us during the design process. We’ve definitely ended up with a much-improved scheme as a result of their input.”

The Sports Facilities Fund prioritises projects that widen access to participation or allow people to progress further within their chosen sport locally by removing barriers, particularly in rural areas or areas of deprivation, and for under-represented groups.

In addition to the investment, projects can benefit from the expertise within sportscotland’s facilities team to maximise the impact that their plans will have, ensuring they meet the needs of their local communities now and in the future.