Sports clubs and fitness classes are being offered the chance to use top of the range equipment for free.
Dee and Glenkens Councillor Pauline Drysdale has donated a wide range of surplus fitness kit – including high quality boxing gloves and pads, exercise mats, weights and sand bags – to the council’s Active Schools and community sports team.
They’ll soon be starting exercise to music classes but anyone currently running fitness and exercise sessions is being encouraged to get in touch with the team for free hire of the equipment.
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Councillor Drysdale said: “I’m passionate about helping to promote positive mental health, getting outside, keeping fit and eating healthily. My objective is to work with Louise Badger Coupar and Amy Niven of Active Schools and the Community sports team across the Stewartry to get as many people out exercising as possible.”
Louise added: “We will be working within communities and have started to create as many opportunities as possible to keep fit, have fun and live life to the full.”
Louise and Councillor Drysdale recently met with Sara-Leigh Cain, the project co-ordinator of TGB Gatehouse. The charitable group has recently taken on a lease of part of the old Bank of Scotland in the town and is excited about the chance to further develop their work in the community.
TGB works closely with Gatehouse Community Church and other local groups promoting good community cohesion. Both Sara-Leigh Cain and local pastor Chris Barrett, who is chair of the group, have been the key in the setting up of this new unit in Gatehouse.
Councillor Drysdale said: “We need to look towards Gatehouse and New Galloway as good examples as to where understanding and respect is built across generations.
"This, in turn, results in more cohesive communities with happier and healthier people.”
Any groups or schools who would like access to the kit, which is now being safely stored at the council’s Abercromby Road depot in Castle Douglas, should contact Louise Badger Coupar on StewartryActiveSchools@dumgal.gov.uk.
And anyone interested in TGB Gatehouse should e-mail Sara-Leigh Cain on bunkeroo@ymail.com.
