Active Lives, an Edinburgh Leisure project that aims to offer opportunities for adults (45+) to be more active in their local Edinburgh Leisure venue, has been awarded £70,000 from the Legacy 2014 Physical Activity Fund to extend and enhance the project.
Currently funded by the City of Edinburgh Council until January 2016, Active Lives encourages and supports inactive adults 45+, living in areas of multiple deprivation to improve their health and wellbeing through physical activity. Since 2013, it has received 1,800 referrals.
Zoe Mobey, Head of Funding at Edinburgh Leisure said: “Edinburgh Leisure is an enterprising charity dedicated to making a positive difference to communities by creating opportunities to get active, stay active and achieve more.
“The extended funding will mean 800 more disadvantaged Edinburgh folk can access this programme and allow the Active Lives team to pilot some gentler physical activities within communities such as walking groups, walking football and low level circuits.”
Jamie Hepburn, Minister for Sport, Health Improvement and Mental Health, said: “I’d like to congratulate Edinburgh Leisure on their successful application to the Legacy 2014 Physical Activity Fund. By working to promote physical activity in communities, and concentrating on some of the people that are most at risk of inactivity, we can really improve people’s confidence and help them to change their lifestyles.
“This fund is one of the ways we are securing the legacy of the Commonwealth Games, encouraging people to live more active lives. Physical inactivity leads to 2,500 premature deaths in Scotland every year. It’s linked to a host of health problems including diabetes, heart disease, dementia and depression. If we can encourage people to make even small changes to their lives we can make a big difference to Scotland’s health.”
Throughout the Active Lives programme participants receive one to one consultations and free or concessionary access to Edinburgh Leisure venues and services to get active and stay active. Edinburgh Leisure also run monthly socials which provides opportunities for participants to attend health and wellbeing talks, try fitness class tasters, speak with project staff and meet other people in a similar situation.
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