We're delighted to share news from our partners at the London Marathon Foundation — more than 70 community groups across Glasgow and the Highlands have received a share of over £270,000 to boost sport and physical activity, and the fund is just getting started.
The funding comes from Get Active Scotland, a £1.1 million collaboration between the London Marathon Foundation, sportscotland, Glasgow Life, and High Life Highland. Launched in September 2025, it's one of the largest funds focused on increasing participation in physical activity across Scotland.
Why this funding matters
The statistics make sobering reading. Half of adults living in Scotland's most deprived areas don't meet recommended physical activity guidelines. And 32 per cent of all children fall short of the child activity guidelines — rising to 41 per cent when school activity is excluded (Scottish Health Survey 2024).
Get Active Scotland was created to change that — funding projects that help people of all ages and abilities to get active, stay active, and thrive, with a particular focus on communities experiencing high levels of deprivation or rural isolation.
What's being funded in the Highlands
A wide range of activities have been supported — from basketball to boxing, shinty to surfing — so that people can move in the way that works best for them.
Highland groups receiving funding include Highland Disability Sport, Highland Bears Basketball, Golspie Youth Action Project, and Àban Outdoor — an outdoor education charity using the funding to develop new canoeing activities for its youth groups.
Johannes Petersen, Chief Officer at Àban Outdoor, said:
"Children across the Highlands need physical activity now more than ever. While there are some great examples of individual schools offering activities to their pupils, we aim to fill gaps. This fantastic funding will help us to develop new canoeing activities — we can't wait to get going."
What's being funded in Glasgow
In Glasgow, the fund is supporting projects including a parent and child fitness programme with Active Life Club, an inclusive rugby programme with Glasgow Clan Inclusive Rugby Football Club, remote activities for older adults through Weekday Wow Factor, and a community Couch to 5K programme run by South Seeds.
Lucy Gillie, General Manager at South Seeds, said:
"We're delighted with the progress of our daytime Couch to 5K — the only daytime programme of its kind that we know of in Glasgow. Now seven weeks in, we have 15 participants, who could not run for more than two minutes when they first started, well on their way to running 5km."
More funding opportunities to come
The 70 projects funded so far are just the beginning. Get Active Scotland is a two-year collaboration, with further funding rounds for the Get Active Highland Fund — High Life Highland's strand of the programme — opening in the next financial year. So if you're part of a local club or community organisation in the Highlands, this could be an opportunity worth watching.
