Changing Lives | Funding Boost for Kilmarnock’s Easter Camp
Scottish Gymnastics, with the support of the Witherby Publishing Group has provided funding to help clubs to power the difference they make through gymnastics projects in their communities.
Kilmarnock Acrobatic Gymnastics Club (KAGC) applied for funding through the Changing Lives Fund earlier this year and worked in partnership with East Ayrshire Council’s Vibrant Communities project to fully fund 28 places at their Easter Camp which ran from 3 to 7 April.
Grants of £250 to £2,500 were available to passionate clubs who identified a need for their community and designed and delivered a gymnastics project to address that need. By demonstrating an understand of the needs of their communities and putting participation at the heart, Kilmarnock were successful in their application.
KAGC is located in an area which the Scottish Government identifies as having a higher level of deprivation, where there is a real requirement for financial support to break down the barriers to accessing gymnastics and other sport activities for young people, particularly during school holidays. The main reason for the camp is to keep children active and have fun.
Working closely with the local authority, and the active schools coordinator for the area, KAGC offered 28 subsidised places at the camp to encourage children who have never taken part in gymnastics to come along for five days. The funding, in addition to a cost of living grant helps to ensure that the demand for sport in the local area is met, without the financial barriers as well as providing free lunches to everyone attending.
With the increased costs to councils, the opportunities for funded community classes and activities during the holidays have been impacted. KAGC saw an opportunity to encourage young people from the community to give gymnastics a try, and offered the opportunity for children who show particular talent or keen interest to transition from the camp to become full members of the club and join their recreational programme on a funded basis.
KAGC’s Easter Camp encourages community health improvement and enables children from all social backgrounds to achieve large or small goals through gymnastics, working on recreational gymnastics and basic acro skills which will enhance their mental and physical wellbeing. By creating a positive and uplifting gymnastics experience for everyone involved, they hope to support the gymnasts through the sport in a safe and nurturing environment.
Kaylin McKay, a coach at the club said:
We know that the cost of living crisis is having a detrimental effect on a lot of families at the moment. By working in partnership with East Ayrshire Council, it offered us the chance to get children involved and keep active without the financial barriers.
Hear more from Caylin and Kilmarnock Acro in the video below:
Five clubs were awarded funding in this round of applications showing examples of how the grants have been applied to projects. You can find out more about our support for clubs by contacting our participation team on development@scottishgymnastics.org