A SALTCOATS boxing club has been given a major cash boost to help continue its vital work in the community thanks to sportscotland’s Sport Facilities Fund.

The Inspire, Motivate, Celebrate Project founded by councillor Jim Montgomerie will receive £31,377 of investment towards the purchase of its existing facility to ensure that it remains a boxing and fitness club and important hub for the area, including providing food support to those in need.

The club is experienced in supporting vulnerable and disengaged youngsters, particularly those whose life chances are affected by crime, poverty, exclusion, isolation, or a lack of self-esteem, direction, purpose and education.

Over 4,000 young people have already benefited from the facility and ownership of the building means that they can build on that success creating more opportunities for participation and inclusion.

Councillor Jim Montgomerie, chairman of the the Inspire, Motivate, Celebrate Project said: “This is fantastic news which will secure the project for the future in our community.

“The project has helped many individuals and families in our local areas from youngsters to pensioners, and with this funding we will be able to do a lot more for our people.”

The funding from sportscotland aims to help facilities realise their ambitions of improving access to sport and physical activity in their area.

The investment is made possible thanks to National Lottery players who raise £30million each week for good causes across the UK.

Another North Ayrshire project was awarded a major cash boost from sportscotland with Glengarnock Ironworks Bowling Club set to receive £50,000 to extend their existing clubhouse.

The club already engages with several community groups such as local schools, stroke recovery groups, dementia sufferers, asylum seeker befriending groups, and those experiencing social isolation.

The development will improve the accessibility of the clubhouse and create a safer, more appropriate environment for the club to not only cater to those groups, but to expand its offering to youth projects, rehab and social inclusion programmes.

Visit https://sportscotland.org.uk to apply for funding.