Free access to leisure facilities for people.....

[Kintyre Forum News]

Free access to leisure facilities for people in treatment or recovery from drug or alcohol related issues

People living in Argyll and Bute who are in formal treatment or recovery programmes for drug and alcohol related problems will now have free, supported use of leisure facilities for the duration of their recovery. The move has been agreed at a council meeting today. (Thu 23 August). Alcohol or drug issues impact on individuals, their families and on our communities. These measures to help people recover will improve life for everyone in our communities.

A standard formal partnership arrangement will now be drawn up for all support services who want to use council leisure facilities. It will follow the same idea as the ‘argyllactive’ programme. Individuals would be referred to the fitness co-ordinator who would book them in for an induction. Those who need supervised support would use the leisure facilities with a support worker present at all times and this would be agreed under the terms of the partnership agreement and with the appropriate facility.

Lead Councillor for Adult Care, Ann Horn said, “This move will be one of a package of support measures from the public and third sector which will help people’s recovery and improve their general health and wellbeing. There are already 26 drug and alcohol services across Argyll and Bute but only two have any formal links to their local council leisure services. However feedback from the services and individuals involved has been very positive. Both organisations who have taken part found the arrangement a great opportunity to help people’s recovery. I believe a more structured partnership arrangement with alcohol and drug misuse services will be a positive development.”

The partnership arrangement will be evaluated and monitored with regular attendance looked at and quarterly multi agency meetings. There will also be an annual report of overall usage.

[Swanseajock]

Good luck to those (few) that stay on the detox programmes. But why is it always the addicts that get everything thrown at them? Why can't cancer sufferers, or young mothers, or children, or any ill person get free leisure facilities? I will accept criticism because I see it every day and my views are one-eyed and jaundiced( why can't jaundice sufferers benefit?) but everyone has a choice, and tough choices should be the way, instead of tax-payers cash going towards those that never contribute

[Bonnie Lass]

Agree with Swanseajock - why can't those suffering from back pain benefit from free swimming sessions and a special programme in the gymn ??

[Stebyr]

A small investment can reap a great reward and in this case not just for the individual but also for the whole community. No doubt it will bring a lot of negative comments and these are understandable as it is difficult to realise how much difference something such as a trip to the gym can make to an individual who is trying to turn their life around unless you have seen it working.
I am sure that if a good case was made for other groups to enjoy the same facilities at no cost there would be no problem for them.

[zeus]

Sounds great the tax payer pays for the local junkies to enjoy the facilities it just sort of sums up what wrong with this country

[odds]

Agree with Swanseajock - why can't those suffering from back pain benefit from free swimming sessions and a special programme in the gymn ??

How could you you prove that someone had a bad back ? .. probably 90% of the population suffer from some sort of back problem, so you might aswell just open the pool for free

Pete.

[Bonnie Lass]

Now there's a thought I was thinking people would be referred via physio or their GP - not an open house. Doesn't have to stop at backs, anyone under going physio and would benefit from exercises in the pool - but perhaps a tall order.

[Ross]

We use the swimming pool at Faslane for physio rehab sessions several times a week, which i have had use of in the past. Not sure if the NHS go as far as to provide pool rehab sessions or not.

[Ted Maul]

I'd hope they have a wash first, before the swim.

Also, the tax payer pays for gym memberships on the NHS.

But lets not let facts get in the way...

[odds]

Our local NHS Hospital has a Hydrotherapy pool of its own for people under going treatment

http://www.tamesidehospital.nhs.uk/our- ... siotherapy

Pete.

[Stebyr]

I'd hope they have a wash first, before the swim.

Also, the tax payer pays for gym memberships on the NHS.

But lets not let facts get in the way...

I think that facts rather than offensive opening remarks should get in the way

[gizmo]

I'd hope they have a wash first, before the swim.

...

Total gimp.

[SPANNERMAN2]

As someone with a vested interest in youth football in Campbeltown and the surrounding area Ifind this absolutely unbelievable. Having campaigned for better facilities in the town we now have a fantastic all weather pitch now available for some to use free of charge !! Whereas we now have to find and raise literally thousands of pounds to allow CHILDREN both primary and secondary to use the new pitch.Would it not be more appropriate for funding to be allocated to the kids in the area to allow free sport for all children under 16 !!!

[Stebyr]

As someone with a vested interest in youth football in Campbeltown and the surrounding area Ifind this absolutely unbelievable. Having campaigned for better facilities in the town we now have a fantastic all weather pitch now available for some to use free of charge !! Whereas we now have to find and raise literally thousands of pounds to allow CHILDREN both primary and secondary to use the new pitch.Would it not be more appropriate for funding to be allocated to the kids in the area to allow free sport for all children under 16 !!!

Time will show the cost of this proposal but I suspect it will be very low as there will not be a great take up.
I agree that funding supporting young people and sport is essential as this can be vital diversionary funding so they will be less likely to stray into substance misuse. Rather than take away essential funding which will benefit the whole community there must be more sustainable funding for sporting activities. We heard so much about the Olympic Legacy this should be used to support not just young people but all sports even though Campbeltown is a world away from London we should get our share.