Up to £70,000 is being made available to charities tp get people exercising more
A new fund to encourage Scotland’s least active people to exercise has been launched as part of the legacy of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.
The £800,000 Legacy 2014 Physical Activity Fund will aim to reach those people who are classed as physically inactive – meaning they do less than 30 minutes of physical activity most days of the week.
Around one in five Scots currently fit that category – with those with a disability or long-term health condition, older people, teenage girls and some ethnic minority groups most likely to be inactive.
The fund is funded by the Scottish Government and will be managed by Spirit of 2012, an independent trust and Legacy 2014 partner.
Under the scheme, grants up to £70,000 will be available for projects that work to encourage physical activity in local communities.
We need a culture change where more people understand that being physically active is one of the best things you can do to improve your health
Grants are open to existing projects that are linked to a community planning partnership and can demonstrate they are already making a difference to activity levels at a local level. Projects will be supported between September 2015 and September 2016.
Jamie Hepburn, minister for sport, health improvement and mental health, said: “We have always been determined to ensure that the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games will leave a lasting legacy. One of the key parts of that is putting in place long-term changes that will encourage Scotland to be more physically active and today’s announcement adds to the investment and programmes we have put in place.
“We need a culture change where more people understand that being physically active is one of the best things you can do to improve your health and can take action to be more active in our daily lives.”
Debbie Lye, chief executive of Spirit of 2012, added: “The XX Commonwealth Games in Glasgow last year were a momentous milestone in the history of a brilliant city, and now it’s time to help the legacy live on.
“We were delighted to be asked to work in partnership with the Scottish Government to increase levels of physical activity, promoting wellbeing across Scotland.”
Further information on eligibility can be found at the Spirit of 2012 website.
