Three years of helping Fifers to get active

Back Row: Dave Mathers (volunteer), Sandy Roxburgh (volunteer), Janet Henry (volunteer), John Russell (volunteer), Vivienne McNiven (Active Fife project manager), Brian Skinner (volunteer), Isabel Reid (class instructor), Stewart Robertson (volunteer), Sheila Lathangie (class instructor), Ruth Almond (health and wellbeing coordinator), Eileen Black(volunteer). Seated:Â Annemarie Smith (volunteer), Susan Beech (volunteer), Melisa Ford (volunteer), Val McKee (volunteer)

People who give up their time to help others with long-term health conditions got together recently to mark three years of getting fit and feeling great.

Volunteers to Fife Sports and Leisure Trust’s health programme toasted their three-year anniversary of helping participants of Active Options 2 – a referral-based programme for people with a range of long-term health conditions such as diabetes, COPD and cardiac incidents – become more active and enjoy the health and wellbeing rewards.

The trust’s qualified instructors, who deliver the health programme in its facilities and community venues around Fife, felt class participants would benefit from the support of volunteers.

Jacquie Stringer, health and physical activity manager for Fife Sports and Leisure Trust, said: “We currently have 19 volunteers who providd encouragement and motivation to participants, as well as supporting instructors if there are members of the class who need extra help.

“Active Options 2 is a programme designed around the amount of physical activity a person can do, rather than the long-term health condition they have. We currently have around 3,250 people participating in classes around Fife – their health conditions are varied but all can experience the health and wellbeing benefits physical activity brings.

“We are very grateful to the volunteers for their time and support.”