Shetland wins out in bid for People’s Millions cash for electronic dance mats

Shetland has won its bid for Big Lottery Fund People’s Millions funding towards electronic dance mats that it is hoped will help to improve fitness throughout the isles.

Dance to the Beat! triumphed over a rival project from Moray called Scary Monsters! in a public telephone vote on Monday and will now receive £50,000 to buy the portable mats which are suitable for all ages and abilities and will be available for use in every community in the isles.

SIC active schools co-ordinator Louise Jamieson, who put together the bid, said she was “delighted”. She received a phone call at 10.30am on Tuesday from STV, which had featured the two bids on the 6pm news on Monday, informing her of the success.

“I’m delighted. We were up against Moray, and Elgin alone has 22,000 people. But Shetlanders are very good at getting behind these projects,” she said.

No voting figures were available, although Ms Jamieson said she expected them to be made public later. The dance mats were demonstrated to the public at the Town Hall in Lerwick last Sunday when 16 well-known locals took part in a mini-competition.