John Swinney pledges further funding for college sport programme

A scheme which has helped “thousands” of women and girls take up sport is to benefit from Scottish Government funding, First Minister John Swinney has announced.

He pledged £1.45 million of investment for sportscotland’s Active Campus Network, a scheme which aims to put sport and physical activity at the centre of college life.

The funding, which is for the next two academic years, was announced at the start of Scottish Women And Girls In Sport Week.

On Monday Mr Swinney will meet students and staff at UHI Perth who are benefitting from an Active Campus programme which is delivered by an all-female leadership team there.

Speaking ahead of the visit the First Minister said: “Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Week is an opportunity to celebrate the many ways that women and girls can be leaders and role models in sport and in their wider communities.

“We must continue to do all we can to break down barriers and ensure women are free to pursue their talents and achieve their ambitions.

“That is why the Scottish Government and our partners, fund initiatives across our communities to ensure we are building a sporting culture in which everyone has the support to achieve their ambitions.”

He added: “The Active Campus Programme has already helped thousands of women and girls to take up a sport, and I am certain that this funding will help inspire many more.”