PUBLIC HEALTH minister Shona Robison used a visit to Fife yesterday to announce record funding to increase physical activity in schools, workplaces and homes.

Over the next three years £12 million will go towards expanding a range of programmes, such as outdoor exercise sessions in parks, lunchtime walks for workplaces and walking groups in deprived communities.

The funding will also be used to create better recreational spaces and improve environments for walking and cycling.

Importantly, it will be used to bolster public awareness of the benefits of physical activity incorporated into everyday life and should help deliver long- term targets.

By 2022, half of all adults and 80% of children are expected to meet international recommendations for daily levels of exercise—with adults doing half an hour most days and children doing one hour every day.

Ms Robison announced the boost in a visit to the Play@Home project in Kinghorn, which promotes physical activity among babies and toddlers and is to be rolled out nationally later this year.

She said, “I am delighted to see the good work of the Play@Home project in Fife today in helping parents engage babies and young children in physical activities in fun ways.

“Generally as a nation we are not active enough and the increasing problem of unhealthy weight, particularly in children, is a real concern.

“For adults, just 30 minutes a day, five times a week, is the recommended amount.

“This need not involve special clothes or a gym and can add up over two or three different activities.

“Walking briskly to the shops, doing the gardening or playing outside with your kids can make all the difference.”

Ms Robison added, “It is important that we continue to encourage everyone, especially young people, to realise the benefits of physical activity and incorporate it into their daily routine.

“Evidence shows that these healthy patterns of behaviour can stay with a child for life.

“That’s why I’m pleased to launch our new physical activity programme and announce record funding for initiatives which will make it easier for people to incorporate recommended levels of activity into their lifestyle.”

However, Ms Robison stressed the programme was just one element of a long-term strategy.

“In the next few weeks we will be publishing our joint action plan for diet, physical activity and healthy weight which will outline a range of initiatives we are taking forward to tackle these issues.”