Sport can help foster a sense of belonging, build self-esteem and confidence, bring people together, reduce crime, create routes into jobs and improve health and fitness.
The Social Inclusion Partnership (SIP) programme aims to provide opportunities for people living in SIPs and other areas of deprivation to participate in sport and physical recreation and improve their quality of life. sportscotland launched the Social Inclusion Partnership Programme in 2002, and during its 3 years awarded funds totalling £3 million through the programme. An overview of the programme was published in 2009 which can be viewed here. Regeneration awards are now tied in with the work of Community Planning, with information on this in the Scottish Government's Community Planning WebSection.
For more information on the Scottish Government's work on social inclusion in general, visit the social inclusion websection. Further information on sport's role in social inclusion can be found on sportscotland's website ( www.sportscotland.org.uk).