Grassroots sports fund seeks to 'harness excitement' of summer
Money aimed at increasing youth participation levels
A multimillion pound grassroots fund will help “harness the excitement” surrounding a series of landmark sporting events over the coming months, according to deputy first minister Jenny Gilruth.
The £20 million pot for the ‘Summer of Sport’ initiative will go towards a programme of free and low-cost sporting activities, including football, rugby, padel, swimming, cycling, and athletics.
The funding, which had previously been announced in the latest Scottish Budget, will be administered by sportscotland, and will give children and young people the chance to “get active” in their local communities, according to the Scottish government.
Launching the initiative at Glasgow’s Pollok United - one of the organisations benefiting from the investment - Ms Gilruth said: “This innovative programme will offer free and inclusive sporting activities for children and young people - encouraging a new generation to take part in sport and physical activity.
“As part of our wider £40m additional funding for the 2026/27 sport budget, we are removing barriers to accessing sport and delivering sustainable opportunities for people across Scotland to be more active.”
She added: “Activities will take place throughout this summer and beyond, helping to increase participation and enable more young people to remain active long after the final whistle of this summer’s major events.”
Maureen Campbell, chair of sportscotland, said: “This is a hugely exciting time for Scottish sport. The 2026 Summer of Sport campaign, made possible by Scottish government investment, is a great example of what can be achieved when partners come together with a shared ambition to make sport more inclusive and accessible.
It comes as the government confirmed that First Minister John Swinney will travel to Boston at the invitation of FIFA to attend Scotland’s international men’s team’s opening match at the World Cup next month.
Mr Swinney will take in the game against Haiti on 13 June as part of a Scottish Football Association delegation. While in the US, he will also undertake a series of meetings designed to bolster trade, tourism and diaspora relationships.
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