Scottish school sport to receive £6m funding boost

Scottish schools will benefit from a £6m funding package designed to improve Physical Education (PE) provision ahead of next years Commonwealth Games.

The move supports the Scottish Government's draft Youth Sport Strategy, published on 11 December for consultation.

Its vision is that Scotland will be the best place in the world for a child to grow up actively and has been shaped by the Young People's Sport Panel (YPSP), a group of 16 people between the ages of 14 and 25 who are passionate about sport and want to make a difference.

Key actions in the draft strategy include extending competitive sport in and between schools; ensuring every community sport hub has young people as an integral part of their management team; involving disabled young people fully in PE; and ensuring high quality coaches and volunteers raise the profile of young people in sport.

During the consultation, the Scottish Government and sportscotland will work closely with partners including Young Scot, Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People and the Children's Parliament.

The final strategy and action plan will be published in spring 2014.

Commonwealth Games and sport minister Shona Robison said: "We know the power of sport to deliver better health and wellbeing for young people and this continued commitment to PE funding will help prepare young people to lead a fulfilling, active and healthy lifestyle."