Sports clubs in Nairn will be able to apply for development funding from the Nairn Area Sports Council (NASC), thanks to assistance from Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey Enterprise (INBSE) and The Highland Council.

The purpose of the funding is to provide small sports grants to help those individuals in sporting clubs who are striving for success in their particular sport through competition.

The £16,756 funding will be allocated to assist with start-up costs for sport clubs, equipment, achieving excellence in sport, coaching and sport development.

Annual partnership funding has been agreed between INBSE and The Highland Council to allow NASC to distribute these funds accordingly, which means applications can be dealt with more quickly through one point of contact.

INBSE has also allocated a further £3000 to NASC to administer the sports aspect of the Cultural Support Scheme, to allow one-off events.

The NASC expect the funding to benefit 500 individuals, 20 sports projects, 20 community or voluntary groups and three events.

Treasurer of the NASC Marion Stuart said: "Thanks to both INBSE and The Highland Council, we will have around £16,500 of funding to assist the increasing number of elite athletes coming up in this area. We currently have one junior international fencer and one under-11-year-old fencer who are in the top five in Scotland. All their competitions involve a great deal of travel and costs are very high.

"The Primaries Sports Scheme has received a start-up grant and a hockey club has formed in Nairn and joined the NASC. Four champion junior golfers are receiving assistance as are four top junior tennis players.

"Last year we managed to assist two clubs with the £1,500 Cultural Support Grant - one to travel to Chicago to play several rugby matches and the other to take teams of junior footballers to Annfield, Liverpool, which proved to be greatly appreciated. The pro-am bowling tournament has been a huge success for the past five years, and is attended by the top four world bowlers - David Gourlay, Alex Marshall, Darren Burnett and Paul Foster - supported by NASC, INBSE and the council."

Project officer at INBSE Stephanie Murray said: "Sport plays a vital part in Scottish culture and funds are required to encourage athletes to progress through greater coaching and to further sports development within the Nairn area. We, along with The Highland Council, have supported the NASC in previous years to provide this type of assistance, which has proved extremely valuable, allowing talented individuals to progress in their chosen sport as well as providing much-needed support for various local sports, community and voluntary clubs."

Councillor Laurie Fraser, chairman of The Highland Council's Nairnshire Area Education Culture and Sport Committee said: "The Highland Council welcomes this substantial increase in funding for our local sports council.
It is further recognition of the valuable work undertaken by the voluntary sector in the Highlands.

"I would urge all our local sports clubs to join the Nairnshire Area Sports Council if they are not already members, and for all member clubs to take advantage of the grant aid. With the Olympics coming to Britain in 2012, I hope we can look forward to some more medals and trophies coming to Nairn in the future as a result of this extra funding."