The Scottish Government understands the important role that sport and leisure services play in improving people’s lives and believes everyone should have access to these services locally.

The Scottish Government has not carried out any specific assessment on the impact of transport connectivity on the ability of school-aged children’s access to grassroots sport in rural areas. However, we recognise that travel time and cost can be barriers for young athletes in rural and island areas.

To help address these challenges, sportscotland works with local authorities to improve local facilities, and the Athlete Travel Award Scheme (ATAS) provides up to £1,500 to support travel and accommodation for talented athletes in remote communities.

In addition, the provision of free bus travel for under-22s reduces the cost burden on young people and their families and helps make regular participation in grassroots sport more achievable, particularly in areas where distances between home, school, and sporting opportunities are greater. This sits alongside wider support, including local authority powers to subsidise socially necessary bus routes, and funding for community transport through local government resources and Community Transport Association (CTA) Scotland, which helps ensure that young people have more reliable and affordable options to reach sporting opportunities.