Sporting Chance: Thousands back Evening News' campaign in just a matter of days - here's how you can too

Last week the Edinburgh Evening News launched a major campaign to improve the health and wellbeing of our city's children.
The Edinburgh Evening News has launched the campaignThe Edinburgh Evening News has launched the campaign
The Edinburgh Evening News has launched the campaign

Our exclusive investigation into sports funding in Edinburgh has revealed a £14 million shortfall.

Now we are asking our loyal readers to keep backing a petition calling for youth sports to be given the attention it sorely deserves.

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An online petition launched last week has already collected more than 2000 signatures.

Edinburgh is Scotland’s Capital city and one of the most affluent cities in the United Kingdom.

It is a centre for culture and the arts, with its world famous Festivals, as well as for business, education and politics – and a great sporting city.

Yet grassroots sport in the city is suffering. It is getting harder for young people to get involved. Part of the problem is years of cuts to the budget of Edinburgh Leisure, which operates the city’s public facilities. Edinburgh now spends less than half of what Glasgow does per visitor to its sports facilities.

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The Edinburgh Evening News now says enough is enough. Please support our Sporting Chance campaign calling on the City of Edinburgh Council to work with the Scottish Government and other funding organisations to deliver the following pledges for sport:

1. Cut the grass in public spaces and take it away!

2. No more reductions in the budget of Edinburgh Leisure and a commitment to look at reducing the cost of access to facilities

3. A commitment from the city council that there will be no net reduction in the space used for pitches and sports facilities across Edinburgh

4. If developers want land for other reasons, it should be mandatory for them to pay for, and construct, alternative facilities before any development happens

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5. Every public pitch and other sporting facility to be maintained to an agreed standard by the council or in partnership with local clubs

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6. Open up the school estate on trusted volunteer basis during holidays and at weekends to allow local clubs to work with schools to have access and care for facilities

You can sign our petition HERE.