PRESS RELEASE - 24 MARCH 2023

Perth & Kinross’s largest sport and fitness provider Live Active Leisure (LAL) is working with PKC’s dedicated special school, Fairview, to deliver new opportunities for pupils and their families through an innovative new project.  PE Teacher for Fairview school, Stuart Farmer has identified pupils who will benefit from receiving supported physical activity classes delivered by the LAL Wellbeing Team, who has a member of staff trained in fitness instruction. 

This project was developed with Active Schools Co-ordinator Nick Keiller and the team at the school.  “We worked to identify the support needed for pupils, then developed a programme with Ian Hutton, LAL Wellbeing Manager, that would engage the pupils and encourage them to be active in whatever way best fitted their needs.

Stuart Farmer went on the talk about the benefits not only to pupils too.  “The work we are doing with LAL will not only improve the physical health of our pupils but their mental wellbeing too which is as important.  In addition, it also engages their families, and their wider community to get involved, trying new activities, spending time together in a different way and improving relationships, all positive outcomes for our young people.”

LAL Wellbeing Manager Ian Hutton also explained what the next steps are for the pupils taking part.  “It’s so important that once we engage everyone, we give them opportunities in the future to be active, so our intention is that everyone involved can come and spend time using the fantastic All Ability bikes based at Bell’s Sports Centre and also take advantage of the Compass Card, which is a valuable project available to the Perth & Kinross community who need some support to live active.”

The project will initially support 15 Fairview School children, with Headteacher Leigh Verdot explaining “we want our pupils to be the best they can be, and each of our young people is individual with their own often complex set of needs.  This project will support them not only in improving fitness levels but with trying new experiences too, and we are delighted to be working in partnership with Live Active Leisure to achieve these goals.”