Summer of Play funding now available

COMMUNITY groups are being invited to apply for a slice of £150,000 of funding to deliver free activities for children and young people across Dumfries and Galloway during the summer holidays. The Summer of Play 2026 and Summer of Sport 2026 programmes are to be launched by the council in partnership with local third sector organisations. A cashpot of £100,000 is available, while £50,000 has been set aside for the specific Summer of Sport element. On Tuesday, the application process was opened to clubs and community organisations who want to run free activities between July 2 and August 19. The local authority are hoping for provision across as many communities as possible and want to see opportunities for children and young people from low-income families to play, socialise, get active and take part in activities that broaden their experiences, support learning and deliver positive outcomes. Projects should integrate food provision wherever possible too. They may include arts activities, outdoor adventures, wellbeing sessions and family-focused activities for ages five to 18, or up to age 25 for care experienced young people. Awards between £500 and £4,000 are available for third sector organisations who wish to partner with the council. Their activities must be aimed at children and young people within at least one of the priority groups: lone parent families, families that include a disabled adult or child, larger families (three or more children) minority ethnic families, families with a child under one year old in the household, families where the mother is aged under 25.

Meanwhile, the Summer of Sport funding will support projects where sport or physical activity is the main focus, with grants of between £500 and £3000 available. Private businesses are not eligible. Organisations may apply for either Summer of Play or Summer of Sport, but cannot apply for both. The fund closes for applications on May 5. Full details at https://orlo.uk/PAFdX