Teenagers offered a chance to be good sports for less cost

Pilot project at leisure centres is being expanded

Teenage years are often the time when people turn their backs on sport.

However, a west Fife project is helping to buck that trend.

Pupils can access Duloch and Carnegie leisure centres for just £1 during scheduled school PE lessons.

The reduced charge offer aims to encourage young people to get more physically active.

And now, Fife Sports and Leisure Trust is expanding the pilot offering pupils from two high schools in Dunfermline the use of its facilities.

Area leisure manager James Dunbar said: “Improving access to physical activity opportunities is a key commitment for the trust and we are especially keen to engage with young people to help foster a lifelong interest in keeping active.

“By offering discounted rates to high school pupils so they can make use of high-quality facilities, with a range of activities, it is a great way for us to ensure even more people can experience the health benefits of physical activity.”

PE teachers and Active Schools coordinators have worked with pupils to make participation as convenient and accessible as possible.

Steven Thomson, principal teacher of physical education at Woodmill High School, said: “The scheme has been extremely well received by the pupils and has resulted in an increase in participation.”

He said fourth year pupils have shown increased motivation and he had noticed this especially among the girls.

“The 14–16 age group is often where we see a drop off in girls’ participation and the number of ‘no kits’ within this cohort has reduced significantly,” he said.

Callum Imray, an Active Schools coordinator based at Queen Anne High, said: “I’m always exploring new opportunities for young people to participate in sport.

“Working with James and the team at Carnegie has allowed me to provide our senior pupils at Queen Anne with access to high-quality gym facilities.”

The scheme has been extremely well received by the pupils and has resulted in an increase in participation

Picture: Fraser Band. More youngsters, particularly girls, have been taking up the chance to play sports thanks to a scheme offering discounted leisure centre admission.