Active Scotland website launched

The Active Scotland website brings together thousands of activities and places to be active into one easy-to-use website.

Primarily developed as a tool for the physical activity and health workforce, it aims to help these professionals to answer the question ‘where can I go to be physically active?’

The site has already gone live for this group, and a full public launch will follow later in the year.

The website is designed with accessibility in mind, with large icons and a simple search function. It is divided into two key areas – active places and active people – and users simply enter their postcode or town to find thousands of activities in their area.

The website supports Scotland’s National Physical Activity Strategy, which sets national targets to get 50% of adults and 80% of children meeting the recommended amount of physical activity by 2022.

Currently, two thirds of adults are not active enough, putting them at a greater risk of developing chronic illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer and clinical depression.

“Active Scotland is essentially a signpost to physical activity opportunities in the broadest sense – ranging from walking to water polo, and from sports centres to allotments,” explains Flora Jackson, Physical Activity Alliance Co-ordinator at NHS Health Scotland, who led the project. “It aims to break down the barriers to activity, such as not knowing where to get started, and offers a friendly and accessible tool for practitioners and the public alike.”

Visit the Active Scotland website - www.activescotland.org.uk