BAM gifts £900 to help Perth carers feel better

Construction of the new Cross Tay Link Road is helping to facilitate health and fitness opportunities for local carers.

As part of the community benefits delivered by the project’s main contractor, BAM Nuttall is supporting a local non-profit organisation with a £900 donation to deliver ‘Fitness to Feel Better’ sessions to help build confidence and improve health and wellbeing among young carers.

Perth based Scotland All Strong's mission is to support the improvement and self-management of mental health and overall wellness. This is achieved through the delivery of all-ability fitness, guided relaxation, and peer connection and conversation.

The money will fund eight places on the course specifically for young carers.

Scotland All Strong, Director, Andrew Douglas, said ‘Our core programmes promote physical activity, mindful relaxation and peer exchange and support as powerful tools for the recovery, self-management common mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, chronic stress and low mood.

‘Using fitness and mindfulness to manage mental health is proven technique of improving wellbeing and we are delighted to receive this money to help young people improve their wellbeing.’

The Cross Tay Link Road project involves the construction of a new 3-span bridge over the River Tay and six kilometres of new road linking the A9 and the A93 to Blairgowrie and the A94 north of Scone. It also includes the realignment of two kilometres of dual carriageway on the A9 just north of Inveralmond Roundabout.

The new road will significantly reduce traffic congestion and related pollution in Perth city centre, and will open up areas for sustainable development. It is Perth & Kinross Council’s largest ever infrastructure project.

The support to Scotland All Strong was delivered through the Council’s Community Benefits Wish List. The Wish List is a series of projects and initiatives highlighted by local community groups that the Council’s contractors can deliver as part of their wider work.

‘The Council is committed to working with communities and businesses to achieve social value from the money we spend. We are doing this by including Community Benefit clauses in as many of our contracts as possible and it forms a large part of the Cross Tay Link Road delivery,’ said Perth & Kinross Council’s Roads Infrastructure Manager, Jillian Ferguson.

The Cross Tay Link Road is part of the Perth Transport Futures project to improve traffic flows and air quality in and around the city and to facilitate more active travel options.

Picture shows: Scotland All Strong Director, Andrew Douglas (right) accepts a £900 donation from BAM Nuttall’s Stakeholder and Communications Manager, Innes Mackintosh.