Pupils at 161 schools throughout Scotland are the latest beneficiaries in a pound;3 million hand-out from the Lottery’s New Opportunities Fund for out of hours learning. The money will also be used to create more than 2,500 new childcare places.
The 34 projects will be aimed at promoting equality of opportunity for children in rural communities and in deprived urban areas and at children with disabilities and learning difficulties, David Campbell, who represents Scotland on the board of the New Opportunities Fund, said.
The latest award brings the OF total for out of school hours learning and childcare projects to pound;17 million.
The largest sum of pound;1.3 million for out of school learning goes to Glasgow where 84 schools will be involved in a range of courses including sport, the arts, science, outdoor pursuits, ICT, cookery, crafts, gardening and problem-solving. Another pound;321,000 will go to 22 schools specifically for learning programmes aimed at pupils with autism.
Childcare projects range from pound;197,000 for schemes in Kilmarnock to serve 12 schools to pound;4,000 for clubs in Fife.