ALBA CALLS FOR FREE ACCESS TO SPORTS FACILITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

IN VISIT TO BLANTYRE GYM WITH ASH REGAN MSP AND RUTHERGLEN CANDIDATE JIM EADIE 

Alba Party candidate for Rutherglen JIM EADIE has today called for young people to have free access to sports facilities in a visit to Hamilton Gymnastics Club, in Blantyre Industrial Estate with Alba Holyrood Leader ASH REGAN MSP.  They met with RUTH GIBSON, the  founder of Hamilton Gymnastics Club who is a former Scottish International and Commonwealth Games gymnast and SHONA GRIGOR, who is an award winning Gymnastics coach.  They also met with members of the club and watched them training.

Alba’s Holyrood Leader Ash Regan MSP said:

 “By making access to sports facilities universally free for young people Alba is giving every young person in Scotland an opportunity to participate in sport, improve their physical and mental health and to achieve their full potential. 

“It was impressive to see the young people in training, some of whom will go on to perform at an elite level.  It was also great to meet the members and staff at the club who dedicate themselves to working with these young people.

"Supporting community clubs and charities, like Hamilton Gymnastics Club, who support children and young people to access expertise and incredible facilities for all levels and disciplines of gymnastics, is critical to improving physical and mental health, learning essential life skills and building supportive communities for our next generation."

Mr Eadie, a former MSP between 2011 and 2016, was a member of the Scottish Parliament's Health and Sport committee.  In a statement Jim Eadie said:

"Hamilton Gymnastics Club's facility in Blantyre is truly outstanding with Olympic standard equipment and highly professional and trained staff, including award winning coaches.  As well as providing young people with the opportunity to take part in gymnastics, they support and coach them to perform in competitions and to achieve their dreams. 

“Alba is calling in this Election for all young people, in Blantyre and across Scotland, to be able to access sports facilities, free of charge, so that young people everywhere can receive the health and social benefits of taking part in sport and physical activity.”