HAVE you heard about Changing Lives Through Sport and Physical Activity – or CLTSPA! It’s a bit of a mouthful and not very trendy and catchy, but important and necessary it definitely is.
For several years now, there have been many organisations who use the power of sport to change lives. Now we have a partnership between the Robertson Trust, the Scottish Government and sportscotland, who have established a £1 million fund to help support this great work. This fund will be administered by The Spirit of 2012, who have a great track record in supporting organisations and ensuring robust monitoring and evaluation of all projects.
With at least 14 grants to be awarded for two-year projects, this fund will breathe life into many organisations who rely on grant aid to carry out their impressive work, and the recognition from the powers that be gives, in some way, credit to those organisation who for so long have been in the background where sport was concerned.
Thinking of the “power of sport” in a different way, Colin Montgomerie joined #letshearitforthegirls on Tuesday night to tell us all about tug of war, and it was a fascinating story about a sport that pulls in participants predominantly from the farming community.
Colin, who coaches Ayrshire Tug of War ladies, was very proud of the success Scotland is currently having and is looking forward to taking the team to South Africa for the World Championships later this year.
It was such an interesting interview as so many technical issues surround the playing of the game, and, to be fair, it opened my eyes. The girls are super-fit and dedicated as if you miss training for more than two weeks, your strength and fitness level is so depleted that is it like starting all over again.
Recently returned from Dublin, where they took gold in the 520kg open and closed competitions, the group are now in fundraising mode to cover the cost of their trip to South Africa and have set up a JustGiving page. If you fancy helping them out, visit their Facebook page, Ayrshire Tug of War.
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