Charity pledges £7m to get Angus folk moving

It is hoped the initiatives will help reverse the trend of inactive lifestyles.

SCOTLAND’s national walking charity has launched three funds worth £7 million in a bid to encourage Angus locals to choose active travel.

The new Smarter Choices, Smarter Places (SCSP) Active Nation Fund worth £1.5 million, the Ian Findlay Path Fund (£1.5 million) and the £5 million SCSP Open Fund have been announced by Paths for All this month.

Supported by Transport Scotland and backed by the government, the funds aim to encourage Scots to drive less and to walk, wheel or cycle more to cut carbon emissions and improve air quality. It is hoped the initiatives will help contribute to reversing the trend of inactive lifestyles by tackling health inequalities across the country.

Minister for Active Travel Patrick Harvie said: “This will help to support the growing ambitions to provide bigger and better active travel opportunities right across Scotland. As part of our record funding for active travel, this work directly supports our ambitions to build a more active nation – where more people can choose to walk, wheel and cycle for everyday journeys than ever before, and I look forward to seeing the success of new projects in action.”

The SCSP Active Nation Fund invites public, community and third-sector organisations to apply for up to £200,000 to support projects which encourage everyday travel behaviour change on a national or multi-regional level.

To commemorate the legacy of the former Paths for All CEO, the Ian Findlay Path Fund supports projects designed to make improvements to local walkways and paths, and to make them more accessible to all. Projects can receive a grant of up to £100,000.

Launched in 2018, the SCSP Open Fund grants communities and public and third-sector organisations up to £100,000, and encourages changes in everyday travel behaviours – such as using sustainable travel for longer journeys.

Kevin Lafferty, CEO of Paths for All, said: “This new support will help deliver a step change in how we choose to travel in order to tackle the climate emergency and help reduce car kilometres and would only be possible with support from the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland.”

Details can be found on the Paths for All website.