Funds will help keep sports and leisure buildings in tip-top shape

Shetland Charitable Trust (SCT) is planning to offer an extra £12 million in grants to repair and improve the many popular venues and sports centres it funded for the community over the years.

The proposed cash injection is the result of a financial windfall gained by the trust in the last financial year which saw its stock market investments generate an extra £148.2m for trust reserves.

Once finalised, the new Capital Grant Scheme is expected to run from 2022 to 2025. It would support major projects such as renovations or renewing fittings and equipment to keep existing buildings safe to operate.

Initially, the scheme is to be targeted at Shetland Recreational Trust, Shetland Arts and Shetland Amenity Trust as well as to Voluntary Action Shetland, which is based in Market House. These funded organisations already receive annual grants to cover ongoing repairs and maintenance but the additional assistance is to be offered in recognition of the advancing age of community buildings.

In particular, the recreational trust faces rising costs in maintaining its large estate of expensive sports complexes and swimming pools, stretching from Unst to Sandwick and Aith to Whalsay. Most were built in the 1980s and 1990s.

The new scheme was approved in principle by the trustees of SCT at their meeting on Thursday after hearing that “an injection of cash” would help maintain the recognised high standard of what are some of Shetland’s most valued buildings.

Contact: John Robertson

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