A new strategy will be developed to tackle inequality and promote access to facilities for getting fit and active in Edinburgh.
At a meeting of the Council’s Culture and Communities Committee on Tuesday, members decided a series of consultations will be held with sports clubs, community organisations and key partners in the Capital to work on a new five-year plan centred around ‘Sport for Change’.
The strategy will focus on increasing physical activity and access to affordable facilities in local communities, to help everyone benefit from a more active lifestyle in line with the national strategy for sport.
Councillor Donald Wilson, Edinburgh’s Culture and Communities Convener, said: “Already, Edinburgh boasts an abundance of parks and green space offering outdoor facilities, while Edinburgh Leisure provides affordable access to 30 first-class venues including the much-loved Royal Commonwealth Pool.
“Once built, the brand-new Meadowbank Sports Centre will become a flagship venue for getting fit and getting active. Designed as a place to participate – rather than spectate – it will become a central part of this new strategy by increasing access to great facilities. But there is also work we need to do within schools and local communities to break down barriers to participating in sport.
“The new strategy needs to be about helping residents of all abilities, backgrounds and ages to enjoy getting fit and active. Just because Edinburgh remains one of the best places in the UK for sport, doesn’t mean sporting opportunities are equal for everyone. So I’m looking forward to working with community clubs and organisations and our key partners to develop a plan that will fill the gaps and support the city in 2019 and beyond.”
View the report online here.
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