Sports Council out to offer help for clubs across the region

Oct 6 2011 by Kieran Westbrook, West Lothian Courier

AT A TIME of economic uncertainty for clubs across the region, one group offering help is the West Lothian Sports Council.

While funding and financial support is impacting on membership numbers and opportunities for many clubs, the Sports Council are looking to expand and bring in more people.

They already enjoy a broad and varied line-up of members representing groups that include everything from judo and gymnastics to netball and bowling.

Their remit was cut over a decade ago, affecting their numbers.

But chairman Fiona Fyfe reckons with purse-string tightening in local sport, the group’s presence has never been more important.

And she believes they are about to embark on a big comeback.

Fiona told Courier Sport: “The economic problems affecting a lot of different clubs are the same and we can help link groups and allow them to learn from each other.

“A big part of what we do is offering advice and information for groups that can help them avoid some of the obstacles as well as how to get out of any difficulty.

“With budgets being cut to other organisations, our remit is going to get bigger.

“The important thing is that we let people know that we are here and that we want to help.

“If everyone works together it will be for the benefit of everyone.”

Aside from allowing members to team up with other groups and gather information on successfully running and managing a club, the Sports Council also hand out small grants to their members.

West Lothian Council supply them with funding which, in turn, they give out in bursaries.

This can pay for maintenance costs or for special events put on by the groups.

“The money is there to give groups a help with extra costs,” Fiona added.

“It can help pay for some of the start-up costs a club has or training, special events or for new equipment.

“It’s for the sort of things that need a bit extra money. It can also be to promote the club, but it doesn’t cover wages.”

Fiona’s sport is gymnastics and that’s how she got involved with the group.

She was coaxed into coming along with a friend who also coached for Astro Gymnastics.

And after attending a single meeting, she wanted to be more involved.

She said: “I saw how much you could learn about local sport and what they were offering and I wanted to play a part.

“Six months later, I was the chairman. That was all three years ago now. The range of different sports represented at the Sports Council really makes a difference.

“If there is ever a dispute or an issue, we can act as a mediator or an impartial pair of eyes.”

The group meets every quarter in Deans Community High School.

They also have working groups that meet throughout the year to bring their separate activities forward.

One big project they have been working on recently is a networking day.

The Sports Council plan to host the event to allow people to find out what they do as well as offering their members a chance to promote their individual clubs and sports.

There will also be a keen focus on the business side of running a club at the event being held at the Regal Theatre in Bathgate on November 9.

And Fiona expects it to be a popular night.

She said: “It is all geared towards promoting the clubs and helping them.

“It is an idea we have been working on for a while now and we are all hoping it will be worth the effort.”

To get involved with the Sports Council, contact them by email on info@westlothiansportscouncil.org.uk or by visiting their website on www.westlothiansportscouncil.org.uk .