YOUNG people from Fife have the chance to help shape the future of Scottish sport as sportscotland launches its search for new Young People’s Sport Panel members, and a former Beath High School pupil is hoping to persuade people to follow in her footsteps.

Alice Fox is hoping to encourage the next crop of inspirational young leaders from the region to apply to become members of the Young People’s Sport Panel (YPSP), with applications opening today (January 29).

The panel is currently in its fourth two-year cycle and 18-year-old Alice, from Cowdenbeath, has already made great strides in ensuring the voice of young people is part of the sporting conversation across Scotland.

Highlights for the panel since starting in June 2018 have been: Meeting with Minister for Sport, Joe FitzPatrick, to present their work and discuss the importance of young people as leaders in Scottish sport and supporting the launch of sportscotland’s new corporate plan where panel members delivered the opening and closing speeches across the country at the launch events.

Three main project areas were identified by the panel to make an impact upon which are: women and girls sport, access to sport and mental health and sport.

Established by sportscotland and supported by Young Scot, YPSP provides a national platform for the voices of young people to be heard and valued in the sporting system. Crucial to the programme is that panel members have the opportunity to influence decision making and drive change in Scottish sport.

The YPSP is part of sportscotland’s commitment to provide a legacy of confident and well-trained young people who will become the next generation of leaders to help take the sporting system forward.

In 2018, former Beath High School pupil Alice, and 14 other panel members, who are between the ages of 17 and 24, were selected following a rigorous recruitment process to be part of the team.

Commenting on her time on the panel, Alice, a netball player and coach, said: “I find that sport is such a great way to express my personality and passion as I am in such a friendly environment with like-minded people and teammates.

“I have been involved in so many amazing opportunities with the panel. I delivered the opening speech at sportscotland’s Regional Networking Event in Dunblane, I closed the Fit for Girls workshop in Irvine and was able to meet and chat with Institute experts and athletes as well as getting a sneak peak of what happens behind the scenes.

“But the highlight would have to be meeting everyone. I’ve built some amazing friendships and have met so many amazing and inspiring people who I would never have met had I not been on the panel.”

Stewart Harris, Chief Executive of sportscotland, said: “I’ve been incredibly impressed by the commitment and passion for sport these sport panel members have. They‘ve already made a big impression at a local and national level and Alice has played a huge part in that.

“This has been a really inspiring group and Alice has shown herself to be a true leader in sport.”

The Young People’s Sport Panel recruitment opens on January 29 and will close on February 24. For more information visit: https://sportscotland.org.uk/about-us/who-we-are/the-young-peoples-sport-panel/