Highland LEADER funding for gymnastics club

The first funding award from the Highland LEADER 2014-20 programme has been secured by Fyrish Gymnastics Club.

The award of £34,200 will allow the popular club to buy new equipment so that more people can get involved. They will also use the funding towards the cost of a competition standard sprung gymnastics floor.

Claire Bath, Chair of Fryish Gymnastics Club said:

"We’ve seen increased interest in gymnastics across Easter Ross since the club started in 2009. We currently have 250 members with over 150 on the waiting list.

"LEADER funding will help the club to purchase new street gym equipment allowing more people on the waiting list to join. The grant will also contribute to the cost of a competition standard sprung gymnastics floor. We are the first club in Highland to offer this type of flooring and members will be able to practice on the same type of floor used for competitions without needing to travel to the Central Belt.

"While the club caters for all levels of ability and interest, the popularity of competitive gymnastics has been boosted by the recent success of British gymnasts in the Rio Olympics and with access to the right equipment and coaching, there is no reason why some of our young gymnasts might not become household names in the future."

Highland LEADER has seven Local Area Partnerships responsible for delivering the programme across the region. The Inner Moray Firth North Local Area Partnership is responsible for delivering the LEADER Programme in the Black Isle, Cromarty Firth, Dingwall and Seaforth, and Tain and Easter Ross.

The offer of LEADER funding was recently presented to Claire by Tom Davis, Chair of the Inner Moray Firth North LEADER Local Area Partnership, with Senior Coach Sonny Rhind and some of the young gymnasts in attendance.

Tom Davis said:

"The Local Area Partnership was highly impressed by the application from Fyrish Gymnastics and we are delighted to be able to support this exciting project.

"The Local Area Partnership has funding of £550,575 to award to projects benefiting communities in the area. We would encourage potential applicants to come forward with project ideas."

Highland Council is responsible for administering the Highland LEADER Programme.

Cllr Audrey Sinclair, Chair of Highland Council’s Planning, Development and Infrastructure Committee said:

"There is over £6.6million LEADER funding available for projects in the Highlands and in spite of Brexit it is business as usual. I would urge anyone who is thinking of applying to get in touch with the Highland LEADER Team."

For further information about the Highland LEADER Programme please visit the Highland LEADER website or contact Judith Wainwright, the LEADER Development Officer for the Inner Moray Firth North. Judith can be contacted on 01463 702570 or by emailing judith.wainwright@highland.gov.uk.

More about LEADER across Scotland

You can find out about LEADER across Scotland in the LEADER section of our website, where you can also submit an Expression of Interest form if you have an idea for a project.

And watch our short film below to find out more about six inspiring projects that received funding in the LEADER 2007-2013 programme.

Scottish LEADER programme from ScottishRuralNetwork on Vimeo.