OFFICIALS are set to make plans to ensure a successful Summer of Sport for communities in Argyll and Bute.
A one-off investment fund has been made available nationally to support sporting initiatives in communities, tying in with the 2026 World Cup and the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
Responding to a councillor’s question, a liveArgyll official has said that a programme will be worked on for the area over the coming weeks.
The discussion took place at a meeting of Argyll and Bute Council’s Bute and Cowal community planning group on Tuesday, April 28.
Councillor William Sinclair (Liberal Democrat, Cowal) said: “I attended the COSLA (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities) sport and physical activity committee talking about the Cowal Games, but also on the summer of sport.
“There is money available and they are wondering what type of programme we would be looking to offer?”
Ann Kenovin, youth worker with liveArgyll, responded: “We have been working with Active Schools, and their co-ordinator and I are meeting later this week. We were running through some ideas and we have some ideas about what we want to do with it.
“We will contact some coaches, so it will maybe be somebody from local bowling, or we will get somebody in to do a golf clinic. We will work on that in the next couple of weeks.
“From my point of view, it is going to be about teambuilding and it is a part we need to look at, because technically my work is with young people P7 and above. We will work through what liveArgyll’s input will be.”
Launching the Summer of Sport investment fund in March, SportScotland said: “We want to work with partners to put on free, targeted or reduced cost events designed to provide as wide access as possible to different activities and be inspired by the FIFA World Cup 2026 and Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
“We aim to create opportunities for young people aged three to 26, particularly those facing disadvantage, to get active, stay active, and enjoy the benefits of physical activity.
“Support is also available for staff and volunteers, with training and development to help make this summer special.”
Proposals for the fund will be reviewed by a panel on Friday, May 8.
