YEAR two of the ‘Go for it Scotland!’ sport and healthy activity bursary, which benefitted nearly a 1,000 people in its inaugural year, is being launched today (6 December 2012).
The bursary programme, run by Quality Meat Scotland and sportscotland, is open to individuals and groups of all ages and abilities providing they live and train in Scotland and take part in a healthy activity which increases their heart rate.
Individuals, groups and clubs are invited to apply for the 20x£500 bursaries which are being awarded annually in the run up to Glasgow 2014.
David Sole OBE, former Scotland rugby captain and board member of both sportscotland and QMS, visited Langfaulds Primary School located in the heart of Drumchapel, Glasgow ahead of this week’s launch of the 2013 bursary.
Mr Sole met with children and staff at the school and heard how they have been able to create a basketball club and take part in local basketball festivals with the help of funding from the ‘Go for it Scotland!’ bursary.
“We are a health promoting school and are extremely aware of the impact good health and wellbeing has on a child’s development,” said Nancy MacLaughlan, deputy headteacher at Langfaulds Primary School.
“The ‘Go for it Scotland!’ bursary has meant that we have been able to set up a truly inclusive basketball project, catering for the age group of four to 12.
The children are brought together not only to improve their general health and wellbeing but also their social and interaction skills.
“We provide basketball classes as part of the curriculum and as part of our after school activities. The classes mean that we can provide the children with a different choice of sport, giving them personalisation and choice, which are among the entitlements of the Curriculum for Excellence.
“We have already seen the benefits the basketball project has brought to the children including increased confidence and self-esteem,” added Ms MacLaughlan.
“The bursary programme is a great extension to our existing health and education activities to encourage better understanding of the important role played by beef, lamb and pork in a healthy diet,” said Jennifer Robertson, a qualified dietitian and Health and Education Coordinator at QMS.
“The ‘Go for it Scotland!’ funding can be used for equipment, specialist clothing, travel, training, nutrition, coaching, or as Langfaulds Primary School have used it, to set up a new group and participate in new activities.”
Stewart Harris, chief executive of sportscotland, said: “Our partnership with Quality Meat Scotland helps precipitate great projects such as this one at Langfaulds Primary School – and many others – which assist young people to participate in sport and physical activity.
“After such a positive inaugural year in 2012, we are delighted to be involved in outlining the bursary plans for 2013.”
Application forms can be downloaded from www.qmscotland.co.uk and the deadline for submitting an application is 5pm on Friday 15 February 2013.
Picture caption: David Sole joins pupils from Langfaulds Primary School which successfully applied to the ‘Go for It Scotland!’ bursary last year.
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Contact: Claire Morrison
Phone: 0131 472 4046
Email: cmorrison@qmscotland.co.uk
Website: http://www.qmscotland.co.uk
