Summer of Sport funding in West Dunbartonshire to help widen participation
Published 05 June 2026
Young people across West Dunbartonshire will be given additional chances to get involved in a range of sporting activities as part of the Summer of Sport.
The national initiative - inspired by the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games - awarded the Council £212,000 to support free or low-cost, inclusive physical activity opportunities for children and young people aged 3–26.
The funding will be used to offer a range of targeted projects and activities to young people with a focus on widening participation including for girls.
The projects include a programme of activities for children with additional support needs (ASN), young people within West Dunbartonshire SEARCH programme and a dedicated ASN dance programme supported by Dumbartonshire Disability Sports Club.
Funding will also be used to support mental health in young people and an active travel cycling scheme providing free access to bikes for all young people and free family leisure passes for priority families. This will help families remove barriers to participation and ensure more young people have the chance to get involved.
In addition, a small number of free activities – all of which are designed to help young residents develop healthy habits, build stronger social connections, and foster a lifelong love of sports – will be available to book.
The Summer of Sport is being run in addition to the wide range of free activities already provided to all children and young people throughout the summer holidays, including free swimming sessions for all West Dunbartonshire school pupils; free gym sessions for pupils aged between 12 and 18, and the SHINE summer holiday programme.
Councillor William Rooney, Convener of Corporate Services, said: "We welcome this funding, which enables us to further expand our already wide-ranging programme of free and low-cost activities across West Dunbartonshire.
"Sport and exercise are crucial components of leading a happy and healthy life, so it is important to break down barriers and create opportunities for children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds so they can take part in and enjoy physical activity."
Councillor Lawrence O’Neill, Vice Convener of Corporate Services, said: “The funding through Summer of Sport has allowed us to extend what was already a great offer in West Dunbartonshire and ensure that we help families keep their children active, regardless of their background. I would like to thank all our staff and partners for their help and support in rolling out this exciting programme of sports, which will have benefits long after the summer months.”