We have announced further concessionary funding measures to help young people in Fife access affordable community sports and leisure facilities.

As the region’s leading provider of sports and leisure services, we are pleased to be working in partnership with Fife Council, in announcing more programmes that will target support through the Winter Concessionary Funding initiative to help more young people get active.

Through the Fife-wide Learn to Swim programme, children who meet the criteria, will be given fully funded swimming lessons for up to 12 months. We expect to support up to 100 places working with partners to identify children who would otherwise not access swimming lessons and attain the same health outcomes as other young people. The programme will be available all nine of our pools.

We are also launching Teen Rebel, a new programme for teenagers to get active in a warm, safe, non-competitive environment with a focus on fun and networking. Our instructors will support young people to try new activities to boost confidence, self-esteem, health and wellbeing.

The Teen Rebel initiative will be a weekly 60-minute session at Carnegie Leisure Centre, Cowdenbeath Leisure Centre, East Sands Leisure Centre, Dalgety Bay Sports and Leisure Centre, Kirkcaldy Leisure Centre and Levenmouth Swimming Pool and Sports Centre.

Lee Cunningham, activities manager for Fife Sports and Leisure Trust, said: “Our team has worked hard to identify ways in which we can support more young people to get active – particularly in light of the cost of living crisis and the pressures of families already struggling.

“We know that children and young people who are exposed to physical activity at a young age, go on to have a much better chance of regularly getting active as part of a lifelong lifestyle.”

Cllr. Linda Erskine, spokesperson for Communities and Leisure, said this is great news for young people across Fife.

She said: “We know that more and more people are finding things difficult financially, and this is a very welcome move.

“It’s so important for children, young people and families, to get out and be active and we know how difficult and expensive it can be to keep children occupied. Giving our young people the chance to socialise, take part in group activities and make friends is vital for their health and wellbeing and we’re delighted to be able to support this.”

Click here to find out more information.