Current status: Answered by Maree Todd on 6 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to provide access for young people living on islands to mainland sports facilities and training.
sportscotland, our national agency for sport, continues to engage strategically with local authorities and island communities to identify opportunities to deliver improved local facility provision for sport and physical activity.
The Scottish Government recognises the commitment required from young athletes to develop and pursue their sporting ambitions, appreciating that this can place additional demands on athletes and families, such as time and money. Sportscotland’s Athlete Travel Award Scheme (ATAS), run in partnership with Shetland, Orkney, Western Isles and Highland local authorities, is a key programme that helps to support athletes with those specific challenges. Successful applicants to the ATAS scheme benefit from up to £1,500 to support travel and accommodation costs, gaining better access to competitive and developmental opportunities.
The Scottish Government has also made significant investment to ensure that ferry fares are affordable, including the introduction of Road Equivalent Tariff (RET), a 50% discount on school bus fares, and, from 23 June 2025, an extension to the existing 4 free journeys per year scheme to include 16 to 21 year olds.