National Lottery Young Start Fund Impact Report
Community Sport: Young Ambassador Programme (May 2024 – Present)
In May 2024, Get Active Coaching CIC was awarded £100,000 from The National Lottery Young Start Fund over a three-year period to deliver our Community Sport: Young Ambassador Programme.
The programme was created with one simple ambition: to help more young people engage positively in sport within their local communities while creating opportunities for them to become the next generation of community coaches.
Building Stronger Communities Through Sport
During the first year of the programme, we recruited two Community Coaches and established five weekly community sports clubs across:
- Howwood
- Inchinnan
- Langbank
- Kilbarchan
- Renfrew
The response from local families exceeded all expectations. Within just a few weeks, almost 100 young people had registered across the five clubs, giving children regular opportunities to be active, make friends and develop confidence in a welcoming community environment.
Alongside participant recruitment, we also identified three young volunteers who showed a genuine passion for coaching. Through mentoring and structured development, we enrolled them in the Saltire Awards programme, allowing them to gain valuable volunteering experience while supporting weekly sessions.
Creating Pathways into Employment
One of the key aims of the Young Ambassador Programme was to demonstrate that participation in sport can lead to meaningful employment opportunities.
By the end of the first year, one of our volunteers had developed the skills, confidence and experience needed to progress into a paid coaching role.
As we entered Year Two, they officially joined our coaching team, representing exactly the type of progression pathway we hoped the programme would create—from participant, to volunteer, to paid community coach.
Growing Our Reach
Throughout Year Two, our delivery expanded with a team of three coaches, supported by additional sessional staff to meet growing demand.
Our flagship community club in Langbank regularly welcomed more than 30 children each week, and at its peak, attendance included almost an entire primary school year group taking part together every Wednesday evening.
Across all locations, we have continued to provide safe, inclusive and enjoyable opportunities for young people to experience sport regardless of previous ability or experience.
While attendance has naturally reduced towards the end of Year Two, this has largely been driven by positive outcomes. Many young people have progressed into local sports clubs and competitive activities, with families telling us that our sessions gave their children the confidence to try organised sport for the first time.
Hearing that our programme has acted as the catalyst for these journeys has been one of our proudest achievements.
Wider Community Impact
Over the first two years of delivery, the programme has generated impact far beyond weekly sports sessions.
It has enabled us to:
- Support over 100 young people to engage in regular physical activity.
- Create paid employment opportunities for three young people under the age of 25.
- Develop a volunteer pathway through the Saltire Awards.
- Build stronger partnerships with local schools and community organisations.
- Increase access to affordable community sport across multiple villages and towns.
- Help young people build confidence, friendships and lifelong positive relationships with physical activity.
Looking Ahead
We have now launched the third and final year of our Young Start funding.
Our focus remains on providing high-quality community sport opportunities while continuing to develop young leaders and coaches from within the communities we serve.
By investing in young people today, we hope to create healthier, more active and better-connected communities for years to come.
Impact at a Glance
Funding Award: £100,000 (May 2024–May 2027)
Programme: Community Sport: Young Ambassador Programme
Community Clubs Established: 5
Locations: Howwood, Inchinnan, Langbank, Kilbarchan and Renfrew
Young People Engaged: 100+
Young Volunteers Supported: 3
Volunteers Progressing into Paid Employment: 1
Paid Coaching Opportunities Created: 3 young people under 25
Current Programme Status: Year 3 of 3 underway