COWDENBEATH'S Alice Fox is celebrating the halfway point in her journey of helping to influence the future of Scottish sport.

The 16-year-old was named as part of the fourth cohort of sportscotland’s Young People’s Sport Panel (YPSP) in June last year.

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.

The 16 YPSP members are halfway through their two years of helping to influence and shape the future of sport and raising its profile, and they have already made great strides.

Alice and her 15 colleagues were at Glenmore Lodge, in Aviemore, at an event which gave the panel the chance to reflect on their last year and plan what they want to achieve by the end of their time on the YPSP.

In their first year as panel members they’ve had the opportunity to meet and present ideas to Scottish Government Sport Minister, Joe FitzPatrick, as well as the sportscotland board. Panel members have also supported the decision making for sportscotland’s School Sport Awards programme and Coaching, Officiating and Volunteering Awards.

Beath High pupil, Alice, has been part of the Girls and Young Women working group. The group have supported the development of the 'fit for girls solutions workshops', they hosted the day and were part of table discussions. This provided sportscotland partners with a real-life perspective of how girls feel when engaging in sport and the barriers they or their peers have faced.

Alice, who is a keen netball player, is looking forward to another year as a panel member and said: “Sport has always played such a massive part of my life.

"Joining the panel was a perfect opportunity for me to voice change on a national platform while exploring different aspects of sport, new doors are always opening.

“The panel has allowed me to meet so many amazing people as well as attending events I would never get the chance to before. I am most proud of my commitment to the panel. As a result, I have attended some incredible events where I have delivered opening and closing speeches.

“I have continuously pushed myself out of my comfort zone and I think it has really paid off, I’ve had an absolute blast.

“In year two I looking forward to seeing our Girls and Young Women sub group plans grow and flourish.”

Chief Executive of sportscotland, Stewart Harris, 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 I look forward to seeing the positive impact their dedication will have on Scottish sport in the coming year.”