Social Investment scoring in Dundee
Our Social Investment programme supports social enterprises and charities across the country, enabling them to grow and deliver positive social impact. Among the projects supported in Dundee is Dundee North West Community Sports Club.
Dundee North West Community Sports Club (DNWCSC), was formed in 2010 to promote local participation in sport, primarily football, basketball and rugby. It’s a small volunteer-led programme with big aspirations.
Dundee North West Community Sports Club manages sports facilities at two locations, one of which is the Charlotte Street grass pitches and club pavilion. The pitches are available to rent by the public and external youth teams when not used by the core clubs. They are an SFA accredited Platinum Legacy Club, which is the highest award made to clubs recognised for their work in social development, charitable activities, community support and environmental commitments.
They deliver a wide and varied community focused programme, with participant ages ranging from 3 years of age to 90. The kids football section of the Trust consists of 800 playing members, with a large percentage of participants living within the poorest areas of Dundee. Through their programme of work, they reach up to 400 young people using teamwork, problem solving, and communication activities delivered at local nurseries, primary and secondary schools. They also deliver a summer holiday food programme and this year, for the first time, offered a daily camp over the school holiday to allow parents the opportunity to work.
Their activities also aim to tackle social isolation and mental health issues by engaging with up to 300 members of the local community via sports related projects including men’s active groups, walking groups and healthier lifestyle initiatives.
There are 8 other astroturf facilities in the city, servicing in excess of 200 youth and amateur football clubs as well as an active Junior FA league.
DNWCSC were the last remaining sports hub of their size in Dundee to not have a 4G pitch, which meant their timetable for the grass pitches was at the mercy of poor weather and shorter hours during the winter.
After approaching Foundation Scotland for a final funding push, they received £75,000 of social investment support which allowed them to close the final funding gap and put in place installations such as floodlights and fencing to make the pitch fully functioning and useable. The total cost of the facility, which has been a decade in the making, was £935,000 and Dundee North West pitch was opened to the public in October.
Tam McCabe, manager at the Dundee West Community Trust, said:
This facility allows us to support those most in need by having something local. They can have access to things like drop-in sessions where young people, regardless if they play for a team or how good they are, can come along for a kick about. Youth diversity projects are also supported, which will allow people to be off the streets in the local area and be in a safe space where they are improving their wellbeing. The idea is that it will become the heart of the community and schools and other organisations can benefit – that’s the vision.