NHS Western Isles supports gym upgrade in Back

Local residents are set to benefit from improved health and fitness facilities after Back Football and Recreation Club was awarded £26,100 in capital grant funding from NHS Western Isles to upgrade its popular community gym.

Diane Macdonald, NHS Western Isles Director of Human Resources and Workforce Development was delighted to be invited to attend and cut the ribbon at the official opening of the new gym facilities on October 31.

The funding was used to replace second-hand gym equipment that was no longer fit for purpose. The upgraded equipment will provide a safer, more reliable facility for those that frequently use the gym at the Back Football and Recreation Centre.

The community gym plays an important role in supporting the health and wellbeing of Western Isles residents. Regular physical activity is widely recognised for its positive impact on both physical and mental health and can help prevent, manage and reduce the risk of a range of long-term health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some cancers.

Regular gym use can reduce stress and anxiety, improve resilience, boost self-esteem and confidence. The facility also offers a place to where people can connect with others, strengthen community ties and reduce social isolation.

A significant advantage of the gym is its affordability and accessibility. The facility offers low-cost membership and flexible access, allowing members to use the gym 24 hours a day, Monday-Saturday, which contributes to reducing health inequalities.

As part of the project, the club has also upgraded its member entry system, improving security and enabling better monitoring of the facility usage. The enhanced system will help support the effective management of the gym while ensuring continued easy access for its members.

Diane Macdonald, Director of Human Resources and Workforce Development, NHS Western Isles, said: “We are pleased to support this investment in the Back Football and Recreation Centre gym, which is an important community asset. We know that regular physical activity has many benefits for physical and mental wellbeing, and these improvements will support people to stay active.”

Duncan Maclean, Chair of the Back Football & Recreation Club, said: “We would like to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to NHS Western Isles for providing the funding towards our new gym equipment. This investment is greatly valued and will make a significant difference to the facilities we are able to offer within our community.

“The new equipment will provide more opportunities for people of all ages, abilities and fitness levels to participate in physical activity, improve their overall health and wellbeing, and enjoy the many benefits that regular exercise can bring. We hope that the equipment is well utilised, not only by members of our immediate community but also by people from surrounding areas who may benefit from having access to affordable and welcoming fitness facilities.”

This funding was made available to NHS Western Isles as capital grant funding, separate to revenue and capital core funding allocations for patient care and NHS services/staff. NHS Western Isles understands how difficult the financial situation can be for the third sector and not for profit organisations and bids for Capital Grant funding from NHS Scotland to help support these groups.