Thursday May 7th 2026
Fairfield House
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Marie Sharp
Children and young people in Midlothian will be given access to free and cut price sport activities this summer after a £229,000 investment.
A report to council has revealed the funding will be used to promote a Summer of Sport 2026 programme to help youngsters aged between three years old and 26 get more active.
The funding from sportscotland is part of a national campaign to use the Commonwealth Games, which are being held in Glasgow this year, to encourage more young people to get active.
And it will work alongside the council’s own plans to create a wide range of events to support communities during the World Cup.
The report said the Summer of Sport programme aimed to provide “free or low-cost, inclusive opportunities for children and young people to get active, stay active and improve their lives, with a particular focus on reducing barriers to participation and addressing poverty-related inequality.”
It adds: “The investment is designed to support activity during summer 2026, including the period around the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, and to create a lasting impact through to March 2027 by strengthening pathways into sustained participation in school, club and community sport.”
Last December councillors instructed officers to come up with plans to ensure residents were able to participate in the excitement of the World Cup after Scotland men’s team qualified for tournament for the first time in 28 years.
Among the areas they wanted to see covered were school involvement incorporating the tournament into lessons and class projects and the creation of community events where people could watch or join in with the fun of the games.
The report on the sportscotland funding says: “The aim of the funding closely aligns with the Midlothian Council World Cup motion where officers are tasked to establish a lasting legacy to ensure activities and programmes are designed to create increased sports participation, improved community well-being, and sustained educational interest that extends far beyond the 2026 tournament, benefiting the people of Midlothian and contributing to a healthier, more active Scotland.”
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