This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
New fitness facilities for Culloden Academy
21/08/2003
Keep fit enthusiasts in Culloden received a boost today
with the official opening of a refurbished fitness suite at
the local school.
The fitness facilities at Culloden Academy, which
include a swimming pool and games hall, are already well
used by pupils and local residents. The facelift means the
fitness suite now boasts new gym equipment and refurbished
changing facilities.
Education Minister Peter Peacock said:
"We all know that it's vital for everyone to take
exercise and lead a healthy lifestyle and that's why the
Scottish Executive is determined to help young people
develop good habits early in life.
"But the fitness suite at Culloden will not just benefit
the school's pupils - it is also a popular facility with
local residents and I am sure that the revamped facilities
will encourage even more people to build fitness into their
daily lives.
"The Physical Activity Task Force highlighted the
pressing need to raise our levels of physical activity.
That means that we must invest in high quality equipment
and resources to ensure young people have the opportunity
to try a range of activities and find what is best suited
to them. If young people discover that exercise can be fun
then they are more likely to continue in later life."
Councillor Andrew Anderson, chairman of The Highland
Council's Education, Culture and Sport Committee said:
"Culloden Academy Community Centre is our busiest
community school in Highland and serves a young, expanding
community. It is excellent therefore that through a
combination of funding routes we have been able to develop
this new fitness suite which will benefit both the school
and the wider community.
"This is exactly the sort of approach we are looking for
in Highland where educational, health and wider community
dimensions are served through joint partnership
approaches."
The Physical Activity Task Force report was published on
6 June 2002 and called for a change in the quality and
quantity of PE provision in the curriculum. The report is
available at
http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/sehd/patf The Executive's Physical Activity Strategy was
published in February 2003 in response to the Task Force
Report and is available at
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/culture/lmsa-00.asp
The refurbishment of Culloden Academy fitness suite cost
£61,094 with £57,094 coming from Quality of Life funds made
available by the Scottish Executive, £2,000 from Highland
Council and £2,000 from school funds. The fitness suite has
full disabled access and is designed to be accessible to
all with reduced price sessions available.
Culloden Academy now offers a wide range of activities
from traditional sports to movement and dance which has
seen an increase in numbers of pupils participating.