Physical activity initiatives such as outdoor exercise sessions in parks and walking groups in deprived communities are to be expanded across Scotland as a result of £12m funding announced today by Public Health Minister Shona Robison.
The funding, which will be spread over the next three years, will be used to create better recreational spaces and improve environments for walking and cycling and raise public awareness of how to incorporate physical activity into everyday life.
Speaking as she visited the Play@Home project in Fife, which will be rolled out nationally this year as a result of the funding, Robison said:
"I am delighted to see the good work of the Play@Home project in Fife today in helping parents engage babies and young children in physical activity in fun ways.”
The funding is intended to help meet the long term targets set out in the national physical activity strategy, which states that by 2022, 50 per cent of adults and 80 per cent of children will meet the current recommended levels of physical activity.
Robison said:
“For adults, just thirty minutes a day, five times a week, is the recommended amount.
"This need not involve special clothes or a gym and can add up over two or three different activities. Walking briskly to the shops, doing the gardening or playing outside with your kids can make all the difference.”
She said there was a need to encourage everyone, especially young people, to realise the benefits of incorporating physical activity into their daily routine.
"That is why I am pleased to launch our new physical activity programme and announce record funding for initiatives which will make it easier for people to incorporate recommended levels of activity into their lifestyle.
"However this is only one element of a new long term strategy to help everyone in Scotland maintain a healthier lifestyle.
"In the next few weeks we will be publishing our joint action plan for Diet, Physical Activity and Healthy Weight which will outline a range of initiatives we are taking forward to tackle these issues."
For more information on the National Physical Activity Strategy for Scotland 'Let's Make Scotland More Active' click here.
One person has commented on this article. 1. Funding for physical activity initiatives announced
Anonymous, Unregistered What would be helpful with these various announcements of money and initiatives that you pass on is actually where/to whom voluntary and community organisations can apply for funding............or does/is it all going to Local Authorities
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