John Lamont MP has welcomed news that the UK Government will provide £18,387 to upgrade the grass pitch at Lauderdale Youth Football Club.
The “brilliant” investment is one of 40 grassroots sports projects in Scotland benefitting from a total of approximately £11.37 million, the UK Government announced recently.
The funding announcement comes just a few months after John Lamont MP secured a £20 million cash injection for the Scottish Borders through the creation of a Levelling Up partnership with the local authority.
Since 2021, the UK Government has delivered new facilities or improvements at almost 2,400 sites across the UK, aiming to get 120,000 more people active, through its £325 million programme. This investment is supporting grassroots clubs up and down the country, including women’s and girls’ teams.
Scottish Borders MP, John Lamont, said: “This brilliant investment will help to upgrade the grass pitch and ensure a bright future for the club.
“Lots of young people use the pitch on a regular basis to train and play sport, so this funding is well deserved.
“As a result of this new funding boost, the pitch will be a great asset to the local community for many years to come.
“It is very welcome news and I look forward to seeing the new pitch.”
UK Government Sports Minister Stuart Andrew said: “Sport and physical activity is vital to our mental health and wellbeing, and each year thousands of people make a New Year's resolution to exercise more.
“We know that one of the major barriers in getting active is access to high-quality sports facilities, which is why we are delivering 40 new projects in Scotland.
“The UK Government and Scottish FA have already delivered another 40 projects backed by £4 million to give local communities the high quality facilities they need.”
