Football fun ahead for Whitehill young people

Published: Thursday 28 December 2023

This image shows some of the young people to benefit from a PB exercise for the Hamilton area

Young people from Whitehill are to enjoy free entry to games at Hamilton Accies.

The lucky youngsters will also get free food and snacks on the day, following a partnership between Whitehill Fun Day Steering Group and Hamilton Academical Community Trust.

The group was awarded £1,000 from a Participatory Budgeting (PB) exercise, which gives local people a direct say in how public money is spent.

A minimum of 100 youngsters will benefit from the arrangement throughout the football season.

Hamilton Accies Trust will provide tickets to the games as an in-kind contribution and the funds will be used to ensure the children taking part get the full experience of attending a football match.

Jim Cuthbertson from the group said: “The football ground is right on the children’s doorstep, so there is no need for travelling to other places to get the full football experience.”

Council Leader and Chair of the Community Planning Partnership, Councillor Joe Fagan, said: “The football project will allow local children to build new friendships, get inspired to get out and play football and hopefully support their local team, now and in the future.

“Well done to the people of Whitehill who chose the Fun Day Steering Group as very worthy recipients of this Participatory Budgeting funding.

“It is a perfect example of local people having a direct say in activities taking place in their community.”

The council’s community engagement team coordinates the Participatory Budgeting process in conjunction with local stakeholders, with the funding coming from the council and the National Lottery.

More information about Participatory Budgeting is available from the Community Planning Partnership website.