Youngsters set to develop sport for all with a touch of Panashe

Panashe Muzambe, who is from the city, is hoping to encourage the next crop of inspirational youngsters from the region to apply to become members of the Young People’s Sport Panel (YPSP), with applications open tomorrow.

The panel is currently in its fourth two-year cycle and Panashe, who is hoping to be named in the Scotland squad for the Women’s Six Nations after being named as a sub for the 36-12 win over Spain on January 19, 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 include 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 in which to make an impact – 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 young people who will become the next generation of leaders to help take the sporting system forward.

In 2018, Watsonians and Edinburgh Uni player Panashe, along with 14 other panel members, were selected following a rigorous recruitment process to be part of the team.

The 24-year-old said: “Sport is an opportunity to be free, it is a freedom expressed as an individual or in a group. It brings people with differences together, bonded by something they have in common.”

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 Panashe has played a huge part in that.

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

Recruitment opens tomorrow and will close on February 24.