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FIT Scotland is the country’s leading charity, striving to protect the nation’s vital green spaces for sport, recreation and play.

FIT for Play Conference
A two day conference on play, organised by Fields in Trust and Play Scotland was held on November 19th at the Salutation Hotel, Perth. More than 100 delegates from all over Scotland heard speakers talk on a variety of issues including parks, green areas, sports, recreation and security. An exhibition displayed the work of a number of play designers and play equipment manufacturers. The photograph below shows (from the left) Alison Moore-Gwyn CEO of Fields in Trust, Play Scotland Chief Executive Marguerite Hunter Blair and the Children and Early Years Minister Adam Ingram.

Photo credit: Courtesy and © of D.C.Thomson & Co Ltd

How does FIT protect recreational spaces?

Partnership with Scotland’s Councils

In partnership with Scotland’s 32 Local Councils FIT protects in perpetuity more than 100 sites for sport, recreation and play. Each year we strive to increase the number of sites protected.

Advice to Community Groups and Individuals

FIT gives advice to community groups and individuals campaigning to protect their local recreational facilities. We also publish a ‘Ten Step Guide’ for protecting local playing fields/recreational spaces.

Minimum standards of recreational space

FIT offers advice and campaigns on minimum standards of green space for existing and proposed developments. FIT publishes the influential ‘Six Acre Standard’ document, used by local and national government as a guide for planners.

National Planning Guidelines

FIT Scotland has been very active over the last 12 months campaigning for tougher national planning guidelines to protect our important green spaces. We have lobbied MSPs, addressed parliamentary groups and met with Scottish Ministers putting our case for tougher guidelines. The Scottish Executive will publish new planning guidelines during 2007 and we anticipate significant improvements.

Advice to government and local government

FIT Scotland is regularly consulted on a range of government and local government documents in relation to existing and planned recreational spaces.

Public comment

FIT Scotland works closely with TV, radio and the newspapers to champion the cause of protecting playing fields and encouraging greater use of them.

Safety, design and maintenance

FIT gives advice on the safety, design and maintenance of playing fields, sports areas and playgrounds. We publish a large number of guides which can be purchased online.

Why is FIT’s work vitally important?

Green spaces are vital community areas not just for sport, recreation and play - they also play an important role in the following areas:

• Tackling Scotland’s ‘sick man’ of Europe problem.
• Tackling crime
• Regeneration of communities
• Social cohesion
• Tackling climate change
• Places for relaxation

Peter Cabrelli, FIT Scotland Chairman said:

“Without high quality, well used local facilities for outdoor sport, recreation and play the Scottish Executive would fail to meet many of its targets.”

The work of FIT in Scotland is overseen by the FIT Scotland Committee:

Peter Cabrelli (Chairman), Bill McAllister, Gerry Ralph, Sheila Begbie MBE, Stewart McLachlan, Allan Alstead CBE, Frank McAveety MSP, Michaela Sullivan, Marguerite Hunter Blair, Alan Mills and Cllr Pat Watters.

Contact details:

FIT Scotland
Dewar House
Staffa Place
Dundee
DD2 3SX

Tel 01382 817427
email colin.rennie@fieldsintrust.org
www.fieldsintrust.org

Staff:

Colin Rennie
Development Manager for Scotland
www.fieldsintrust.org

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