Funding Revealed for City Youth Projects

Details of projects for young people in Dundee which will receive a share of around £1 million of UK Government funding are being revealed.  

The Community Facilities Challenge Fund invited applications from Dundee organisations to enable them to improve premises or undertake new capital schemes to enhance their offering for young people.  

Dundee City Council has been administering the fund and is now announcing which projects have been successful.  

These are:

The Yard – Scotland Yard Adventure Centre 
Renovation of an existing building in Mid Craigie to create a safe indoor and outdoor play centre for children with additional support needs. 
Funding: £111,462

Keswick Terrace Pump Track 
Development of a pump track as part of a community-led transformation of greenspace in Kirkton, complementing a new playpark and MUGA. 
Funding: £120,000

St Paul’s Academy Floodlights 
Installation of permanent floodlighting at the astro pitch, enabling year-round access for sports clubs and community groups. 
Funding: £96,250  

Outdoor 3 Lane Cricket Net Facility 
Dundee High Cricket Club will install a new outdoor facility to support growing demand and enhance junior programmes. 
Funding: £38,628

Kanzen for Life Centre 
Renovation of a space into a community hub promoting health, wellbeing, and life chances for young people and families. 
Funding: £250,000

Lochee Boys and Girls Club Extension 
Expansion of existing facilities to meet rising demand for sport and wellbeing programmes. 
Funding: £110,000

Showcase the Street 
Upgrades to indoor sports pitches and creation of a Tech Hub featuring multi-sport simulators and digital graffiti walls for young people. 
Funding: £102,893

Dundee City Council leader Cllr Mark Flynn and City Growth and Infrastructure Convener Cllr Steven Rome visited the Lochee Boys and Girls Club to discuss plans for the extension with committee members.

Cllr Flynn said: "We welcome this funding, and I am pleased to see how it is being distributed to these vital projects for young people across the city.

"The council and its partners want this investment to make a real difference and create opportunities to engage with young people in exciting and innovative ways. This funding will help create new facilities and upgrade existing ones, ensuring children and young people can become more active, confident, and enjoy improved well-being."

Cllr Rome added: "The council successfully lobbied for this money and was able to prove a long track record of major project delivery.

“I am excited to see these applications move onto the next stages so these facilities can help enhance our city for the future."

Derek Lynch, Lochee Boys and Girls Club Leader,said: "Our club has always been supported locally however this investment by Dundee City Council for this project will create positive change for individuals and the wider community. 
 
"It allows us to reach and encourage more young people to engage in healthy lifestyles, teamwork, and discipline through sport. It will promote social cohesion by bringing together diverse groups to foster understanding, cooperation, and inclusion.

"A key focus will be on physical and mental wellbeing, providing safe spaces for exercise that contribute to both physical fitness and mental health improvements. The expansion will generate wider social benefits, this includes new opportunities for volunteer and employment roles, creating avenues for coaching certifications, mentoring positions, and careers in sports and community development. Sustained benefits for the community will be achieved by reducing social isolation, enhancing local engagement, and improving overall health.    

"We are so grateful to Dundee City Council for their continued support and to all our funders who are enabling us to make this happen."

The city was allocated a total of £20 million under the former Levelling Up Partnership, which is now named the Community Regeneration Partnership (CRP) under the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).

As a part of this programme, around £1 million was made available for bids from projects undertaken by city groups which are encouraging young people to take part in activities and learn new skills, while also assisting in the drive to reduce anti-social behaviour.