Youth Legacy Ambassador

YLA Erin Mcauley collecting "Legacy Wishes" from Cllr Marie Burns and I

Irvine - Cycle Friendly Town?

I was pleased to learn yesterday that funding has been secured from Sustrans Scotland to identify the potential to develop and promote Irvine as a Cycle Friendly Town.  The Study area includes the Irvine West and Irvine East Wards and Eglinton Country Park within the Kilwinning Ward.  Eglinton Country Park was included within the Study as it was identified as a key location for Irvine residents to visit.

The aim of the Study is to identify a programme of recommendations to make active travel a viable option for everyday journeys in and round Irvine and encourage modal shift to cycling.  

Cycle Friendly Town status and the safe cycling environment that comes with it encourages more people of all ages to make journeys by bike.  Taking part in even 30 minutes of exercise a day can improve Health and Wellbeing.  Being a form of transport it can be one of the easiest ways to incorporate exercise into your daily routine - saving money, increasing fitness and being good for the environment to boot.

The first stage of the process is a consultation, I'd encourage all interested parties to take part online at the address below:

http://www.mvasurvey.com/cyclingirvine/ 

Information on existing cycle routes throughout North Ayrshire can be found here on the website 

Support for Scottish Sports Alliance Goals

I am happy to add my support to The Scottish Sports Alliances 3 goals.  

Getting children into sport early provides them positive role models and establish's healthy behaviors, build confidence and belonging.  For the wider community sport socially connects individuals and groups. In terms of physical and mental health it can bring measurable differences in a relatively short space of time.  I have also seen first hand how sport can affect the justice landscape too, giving our young people a positive, sociable and enjoyable diversion.  

Three goals for sport:

1. Help every young person in Scotland get active and stay healthy
2. Make better use of sporting facilities
3. Champion the efforts of sporting volunteers and coaches

Our First Minister Alex Salmond says "The SNP support the Alliance's campaign and share Scots' passion for sport.  Getting children involved at a young age is vital, and we are committed to the delivery of at least 2 hours PE in primary schools and 2 periods of PE in secondary schools by 2014.  We support making better use of sports facilities and opening up school school sports facilities to meet the SNP's ambition for a healthier and more active nation.  However facilities are only part of the the picture - it is the time, effort and commitment of thousands of volunteers and coaches who are the backbone of sports teams and sports clubs across Scotland"

Last weekend at conference the establishment of a £10 million fund that will allow communities to bring their local sports facilities across Scotland into the 21 st century was announced, welcome news indeed.