Launch of Scotland's First Mobile Youth Gym

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Fri, 21 May 2010

Scotland's first mobile youth gym is taking to the streets of Renfrewshire as part of a successful scheme to keep young people off the streets.
The innovative mobile gym is a converted single decker bus, donated by Arriva, which has been kitted out with state of the art fitness equipment including two cross-trainers, two treadmills and two fluid rowers as well as the Wii fit and skipping ropes.
Councillor Brian Lawson, Renfrewshire Council's Community Safety spokesperson said: "The mobile gym bus is specifically aimed at young people and is the first of its kind in Scotland. It gives teenagers free access to top quality fitness and has proved a real hit since it started going out in April.
"The mobile gym is the latest addition to the already successful Investing in Futures diversionary project which has seen a range of activities operating in communities across Renfrewshire that are considered to be hotspots for youth disorder and antisocial behaviour. The project gives young people the opportunity to take part in positive and healthy activities on their own doorsteps. Between April and December last year more than 11,000 attendances were recorded at the activities on offer and the project proved to have a significant impact on these communities."
As well as the mobile youth gym, the project includes the Renfrewshire Youth Bus, also donated by Arriva, which is kitted out with computer games, PCs and air hockey, and mobile street football delivered by coaches from St Mirren Football Club. There is also the popular Box, a multipurpose activity unit which has been used for a whole range of activities including dance mats, dj workshops and Tae Kwon Do sessions.
The initiative is run in partnership by Renfrewshire Council, Strathclyde Police, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue, Paisley Partnership Regeneration Company, Arriva and St Mirren FC and other organisations. The initiative is part of Safer and Stronger Renfrewshire which aims to reduce antisocial behaviour and violence in Renfrewshire's communities.
Tom Neil, Business Manager, Arriva Scotland West, said: " Arriva have been involved with various community projects including the Youth Bus Scheme and are equally excited about the launch of the Gym Bus. The initial feedback from the young people is extremely encouraging and week on week we are seeing an increase in usage. Aiming to become fitter and socialising with your friends in safe environment also helps young people avoid being drawn into anti social behaviour which is a main aim of our partners in this scheme. Arriva is committed to delivering a better service and being a real part of the communities we serve and this project is one we are proud to support."

The Investing In Futures initiative has already proven to have a significant impact on levels of youth disorder and antisocial behaviour in communities where the project is operating.
Strathclyde Police recorded a total of 1764 incidents of vandalism and youth disorder between 18 January and 28 March 2010, compared to 2576 for the same period the previous year.
Vandalism and youth disorder figures for the periods Sep/Oct 2009 and Jan/Mar 2010 show:
- Paisley South saw the biggest drop from 344 in the Sept/Oct period to 221 in Jan/Mar 2010 (down 35.8%)
- Paisley North went from 483 incidents in Sep/Oct to 473 in Jan/March (down 2.1%)
- Renfrew and Gallowhill went from 382 in Sep/Oct to 279 in Jan/March (down 27.0%)
- Johnstone and Villages went from 512 in Sep/Oct to 465 in Jan/March (down 9.2%)
- Houston, Crosslee, Linwood, Riverside and Erskine went from 382 incidents in Sep/Oct to 326 in Jan/March (down 14.7%)
Area Commander Lee Wilson, of Strathclyde Police, said: "Diversionary activity is key to the ongoing strategy for tackling Violence and Anti-Social Behaviour in Renfrewshire , and it is clearly making a positive community impact.

"These activities cater for a broad range of interests and provide young people with a real incentive to make the right positive life choices.
With the full support of partner organisations and Local Area Committees and communities, we will help to make that difference.

"For those young people who may not be very keen on the idea of going to the youth Gym Bus, I would simply say - when it ' s in your area, just drop in and give it a try. You will enjoy the experience!"

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