Summer of Sport launches across Scotland, opening up more opportunities to get on the water

RYA Scotland, working in partnership with sportscotland, is delighted to have secured funding from the national ‘Summer of Sport’ initiative to RYA affiliated support sailing clubs and centres across Scotland to support opportunities for young people and club volunteers as part of the national agency’s 2026 Summer of Sport.

Following a successful application to sportscotland, RYA Scotland is making available a £40,000 “Summer of Sailing – Community Youth Activation Fund.” The fund is open for applications organisations that want to introduce more young people to sailing and boating, get them active and keep them active.

RYA Scotland CEO Finlo Cottier said:

“We’re delighted to launch the Summer of Sailing Fund across the Scottish sailing community and can’t wait to see the real difference it will make in getting more young people and families out on the water to experience the unique benefits of sailing.

“We encourage all RYA affiliated clubs and centres delivering activity this summer to explore the opportunity and think about how additional support could enhance their programmes and support their volunteers. This is an exciting chance to expand community impact and bring more people into our sport - one not to be missed.”

More information can be found on RYA Scotland’s full ‘Summer of Sailing – Community Youth Activation Fund’ webpage. If you have a question regarding the opportunity, or are looking for tailored support, get in touch with the relevant RYA Scotland Regional Development Officer.

Speaking on the wider Summer of Sport programme, Chief Executive of sportscotland Forbes Dunlop said:

“At sportscotland, we believe that sport has the power to strengthen communities and change lives. The 2026 Summer of Sport campaign, made possible by Scottish Government investment, is a great example of what can be achieved when partners come together with a shared ambition to make sport more inclusive and accessible. We’re proud to play our part in helping more young people enjoy the benefits of being active as we celebrate a fantastic summer of sport.”

The £20 million initiative, funded by the Scottish Government and facilitated by sportscotland, will offer young people aged three to 26 the opportunity to get active and maybe try something new.

With activities running throughout the summer and beyond, young people in Scotland will have access to a range of opportunities afloat, helping remove barriers to participation and ensure more young people have the chance to get involved.

RYA Scotland is working with a network of affiliate organisations to ensure these opportunities are available to everyone, regardless of background. The funding will enable the delivery of activities designed to help young people develop healthy habits, build stronger social connections, and foster a lifelong love of movement.

Through these investments, RYA Scotland is working to ensure that the 2026 Summer of Sport positively influences as many young people as possible, fostering engagement in sport and outdoor activities across all communities.

To find out more about the 2026 Summer of Sport, head across to the sportscotland website.