Live Active Leisure, in partnership with The Gannochy Trust, has awarded funding to eight clubs and community organisations through its 2026 Sport for Change Grants programme.
The grants will support new sport and physical activity initiatives designed to tackle key inequalities across Perth & Kinross.
The Sport for Change Grants offer up to £1,000 for projects intentionally created to deliver positive social impact, particularly for individuals and communities facing barriers linked to gender inequality, mental health, and the rising cost of living.
All funded projects must be delivered in partnership between accredited PACES Clubs or Community Sports Hubs and third‑sector or community organisations, ensuring a collaborative approach that strengthens community reach and impact.
For 2026, the programme focuses on three priority areas:
- Increasing participation, coaching, and volunteering opportunities for adult women
- Supporting positive mental health
- Reducing barriers to participation caused by the cost of living
Each funded partnership will deliver targeted physical activity programmes that aim to increase participation, empower individuals, and remove barriers to involvement in sport.
2026 Sport for Change Grant Recipients
Priority One – Women and Girls
- Meigle Cricket Club & Alyth Youth Partnership
- Salle Ossian Fencing Club & Solution Risposte
- Adventure Circus SCIO & HerSpace (Salvation Army)
- Kinross Volleyball Club & PLUS Perth
- Select PACES Clubs & Perth & Kinross Disability Sport (SCIO)
- River Tay Community Sport Hub & Perth Women’s Aid & RASACPK
- Perth Youth Futsal & Saints in the Community
Priority Two & Three – Mental Health and Cost of Living
- Tayside Judo Club & MCR Pathways at Perth Grammar School
Alongside funding, all recipients will receive ongoing support from a Live Active Sport Development Officer and access to additional learning opportunities, workshops, and peer‑to‑peer support through the Sport for Change Network.
Live Active Leisure Sports Development Officer Gemma Simpson said: “Our Sport for Change grants are about much more than increasing participation numbers. They’re about creating environments where people feel welcomed, supported and able to thrive through sport and physical activity.
With mental health a significant public health challenge, and our PACES data showing a clear difference in participation between men and women, it’s incredibly encouraging to see so many clubs and community organisations taking a partnership approach to challenge these inequalities. We are excited to support the projects and to see the impact made over the coming months.”
