Meeting of the Parliament 02 June 2026 [Draft]
Absolutely. It was not until I travelled to France as sports minister that I realised that only in Scotland do we learn the country dances that we carry through our lives and use at every opportunity for celebration. That is unique to Scotland and I think it is a fantastic thing and a great way to celebrate. I come from a community that absolutely loves to have an Orcadian strip the willow right along our seafront, which is now a beautiful promenade thanks to Scottish Government funding.
Across the country, local authorities, leisure trusts, active schools networks, clubs and the third sector are working together to develop plans that reflect local need. Those plans include universal discounts on and free access to programmes; activities targeted at priority groups, including children living in property, those with additional support needs, young carers and care-experienced people; increased capacity and subsidised access; festivals, events and multisport opportunities; leadership pathways and employability opportunities for young people; and outreach into communities that are currently underrepresented.
Critically, those plans are not just about delivering activities but about building pathways from positive experience in summer programmes into what we hope will be sustained participation in school, community and club sport. That is because we know that one of the biggest challenges in sport is not about just getting people active but about helping people to stay active.
The role of our national partners and governing bodies is equally important. Across those programmes, some of the plans that we have had sight of so far focus on inclusive access, partnership-based delivery, local place-based approaches, workforce development and long-term sustainability. Those programmes are designed not simply to deliver a one-off experience but to create lasting engagement, confidence and belonging. That is absolutely central to our ambition because the legacy of the programme must extend far beyond this summer.
I now turn to some examples of what that will look like in practice. Although plans are still being developed, we have some details about specific programmes. The Camanachd Association, working in partnership with Scottish Golf, will deliver a joint programme designed to increase participation in shinty and golf among young people in rural Scotland. The programme will provide free or subsidised holiday camps in rural communities, removing barriers such as cost, travel and equipment, and will, I hope, develop our next Scottish golfing star. It will focus on fun, inclusive and beginner-friendly activity while creating clear pathways into club sport and developing a local workforce of young coaches and volunteers. That is a powerful example of what we are trying to achieve: locally delivered and inclusive provision that creates lasting impact.