Meeting of the Parliament 02 June 2026 [Draft]
The member will be aware that schools are expected to deliver at least two hours of physical education for all primary school pupils, and at least two 50-minute periods of PE for all pupils from secondary 1 to secondary 4, in each school week. Scotland also developed, and has given to the world, the daily mile programme, which encourages 15 minutes of walking, wheeling or running three times a week.
There is a huge body of evidence to support the impact not just on physical and mental health but on learning ability in schools. I would be more than happy to pick up those issues with Miles Briggs over the course of this session. They are a passion of mine, and I would be more than happy to work with him to ensure that we are delivering for children in schools.
At local authority level, the project that is planned for delivery in Stirling focuses on community provision—on strengthening clubs, developing the workforce and ensuring that activity is available not just during the summer holidays but all year round. In Renfrewshire, there are proposals for a planned focus on co-ordinated local delivery, inclusive programmes, additional support needs provision, the development of young leaders and work to ensure that programmes are shaped by the needs and voices of young people.
What unites all those examples is a clear commitment to inclusion, partnership and sustainability. We hope that the summer of sport will lead to an enhancement of the sporting system in a number of ways. We want more children and young people to access local sport, facilitated by the wider partnerships that have been developed through the investment, which will support the transition from summer of sport activities into club and community activity. We hope that the programme will result in more inclusive provision that is facilitated by the inclusive training that will be made available to the delivery workforce across Scotland.
I have spoken quite a lot about partnerships, but we expect stronger and more effective partnerships to be formed, leading to better joined-up local delivery.
Ultimately, we hope that more children and young people in poverty will access sport regularly. We want to ensure that no child is left behind, no matter where they live or what barriers they face. Of course, achieving that ambition requires more than funding alone. It also requires leadership, collaboration and the dedication of partners across Scotland, and I take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been or will be involved in designing and delivering the programme, from local authorities, leisure trusts and governing bodies to coaches, volunteers and community organisations.
Work is well under way, with plans continuing to be developed and refined, and I am very much looking forward to seeing the plans in action and visiting projects across the country over the coming months.
As part of the summer of sport, we are also working with the Scottish Football Association to deliver a celebration of football fund that is aligned with the momentous occasion of the FIFA world cup. It will support organisations to use football to drive positive outcomes in communities. We are also delivering a health in the community programme to target those with the lowest activity levels and help them to become and remain active. In Glasgow, the Commonwealth games will be accompanied by a free, family-friendly live site in Kelvingrove park that will bring people together to celebrate sport, watch live action and take part in accessible activities. Together, those activities represent a comprehensive approach that connects inspiration at the elite level with participation at the grass roots.
The summer of sport is about much more than a single summer. It is a strategic investment in Scotland’s future. It is about ensuring—