That is the commitment in Stirling Council’s ambitious Sport, Physical Activity and Healthy Living Strategy that was officially launched yesterday (30 Sep) at the Cowane Centre.
It has four main priorities:
- Ensure physical education, physical activity and sport (PEPAS) is embedded within all educational establishments and communities across Stirling
- Through partnerships with clubs and communities, ensure high-quality, inclusive and sustainable sport and physical activity is available for all
- Provide opportunities for all of Stirling’s citizens to lead active, healthy lives to improve wellbeing and tackle health inequalities
- Maximise the use and capacity of indoor and outdoor spaces to provide safe, high-quality places for all, including visitors and elite athletes.
The best place to be active
The framework outlines how the local authority and a range of partners will collaborate to deliver on these aims and make Stirling , changing lives positively in the process.
This is already being put into practice through programmes such as Active Stirling’s multi-sport, low impact activity sessions at the Cowane Centre, located in Stirling city centre.
Participants, who are referred to the monthly classes via the Council’s Employability Team, have the chance to try out a range of activities, including bowling, tennis and archery in a traditional theatre space.
Many of them also take part in a weekly walking class that leaves from the Cowane Centre on a Tuesday morning.
Along with the established health benefits of physical activity, the sessions aim to build confidence and self-esteem, which can help them take the next steps and reach positive destinations.
Engage with sport and physical activity
Convener of the Community Planning and Regeneration Committee, Cllr Chris Kane, said: “Coming along to this project in a theatre setting with a wide age-range of participants shows that anyone can be active anywhere in Stirling.
“This is a wonderful example of how the partners on this strategy are working collaboratively to inspire people in our communities to engage with sport and physical activity.
“Through innovative projects like this, I am sure we will succeed in our vision and make Stirling the best place to be active and encourage people to make more informed choices on living well.”
The other organisations who helped develop the strategy are: Active Stirling, Club Sport Stirling, Forth Environment Link, Forth Valley College, McLaren Community Leisure Centre, NHS Forth Valley, Scottish Disability Sport, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, sportscotland, University of Stirling, and Plus Forth Valley.
In the lead-up to Active Girls’ Day on Friday (4 Oct), these organisations will share examples on social media of how they are working to achieve the strategy principles using #GoStirling
Tackle inequalities
Vice Convener of the Committee, Cllr Maureen Bennison said: “By providing access to physical activity, sport and good quality, affordable and sustainable food for all, we can work together with our community partners to tackle inequalities across Stirling.
“Addressing this issue is a key Council priority and, while we know we still have a lot of work to do, it’s fantastic to see the wide range of projects and activities taking place across Stirling.”
Reduce barriers
Dougie Porteous, Active Stirling's Sport, Physical Activity and Inclusion Manager said: “We are delighted to be contributing to this strategy and working with people in Stirling to get them more physically active.
“Our teams will work across Stirling's schools, clubs and communities and do everything they can to get more people active on a regular basis.
"We will particularly seek to reduce some of the barriers people find in being active and work with partners to create innovative programmes to reduce these barriers.”
Picture details and background info:
Group photo shows participants at the activity session at the Cowane Centre, Active Stirling staff, Cllr Chris Kane (back, fourth from left); young people from Inspire Stirling’s Youth*; representatives from NHS Forth Valley, sportscotland, Stirling Council and Active Stirling.
Stirling Council is undertaking a complementary food framework to the strategy which will focus on accessing low cost, good quality food, community growing and food education
*Active Stirling delivers sport, physical activity and wellbeing services on behalf of Stirling Council.
*Inspire Stirling’s Youth are a group of committed young people that believe that physical activity and sport can change people’s lives and allow people to have a positive impact within society.
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Active Stirling staff helping service users get fit and healthy (0) -
Cowane Centre Active Stirling staff and service users (1) -
Cowane Centre Fitness Bikes (2) -
Cowane Centre Active Stirling Bowling Activity (3)
