The Active Living Becomes Achievable project has proved successful since its launched last year

A million-pound project which aims to get people active has been praised.

Minister for mental health Maureen Watt has backed the Active Living Becomes Achievable (ALBA) project which supports people who have a physical or mental health problems to get active.

The Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) project works in partnership with local leisure trusts in North Ayrshire, Fife and West Lothian to help individuals who want to become more active but lack the motivation, self-belief or confidence.

Participants receive 16 weeks of one-to-one support from SAMH and leisure centre staff, using fitness trackers to show their achievements and progress.

Watt said: “The Scottish Government gave SAMH almost £1 million in funding towards this project, and it’s great to see what they’ve achieved so far with ALBA in promoting positive attitudes towards mental health through physical activity.”

SAMH director of delivery and development Sarah Blackmore said: “We know that being active isn’t just good for our physical health; it’s also proven to have a positive effect on our mental health and wellbeing. The results from our ALBA project are promising, with participants in Fife reporting a meaningful difference in their mental health.

“ALBA builds on participant’s motivation, confidence and resilience encouraging them to get active for their mental health.”