Ms Todd was given the opportunity to witness the work that the HLP team undertake inconvenience stores, creating an in-store theater through point of sale and merchandising stands all provided through the funding made available by the Scottish Government.

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Senior pupils from both Bo’ness Primary School and Kinneil Primary School visitedSpar, Bo’ness to take part in a healthy living day event in partnership with the Spar store. The pupils took part in sporting activities outside the store before completing a store visit where they learned about the healthier products thatSpar have on offer to their customers.

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ThroughSpar’s sponsorship with the SFA, the store was privileged to have LisaRobertson, a first team player for the Woman’s National Football team. Lisa made her debut for Scotland in February 2021 and now has 8 caps for Scotland.She currently plays for Celtic.

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Prior to joining Celtic, Lisa played for Hibernian F.C.  As a Hibs player, Lisa won the Scottish Cup three times in 2010, 2016 and 2017 and the League Cup four times in 2011, 2016, 2017 and 2018. Lisa was also part of the treble winning Glasgow City team of 2013.

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Lisa was on hand to speak to the pupils about fitness and the importance of leading a healthier life style.

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The senior pupils from each of the schools, are now tasked to return to school and lead an assembly to the rest of the pupils and discuss what they had learnt. The HLP team will then visit the schools in November and carry out a big breakfast event which will be funded by Spar store. The events are both there to help link the store with the community, encourage parents and children to visit the store and increase the awareness and sales of healthier products.

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Colin Mclean, Spar Scotland commented

“We’re delighted to welcome cabinet minister Maree Todd, the Healthy Living Programme and the Scottish FA along to our store in Bo’ness today.   With over 300 SPAR stores the length and breadth of Scotland we very much class our customers as our neighbours.   We proactively work with many partners to encourage people to adopt a healthy lifestyle and healthy eating.   Our partnership with the SFA that we very recently extended does just that and our ongoing work with the team at the HealthyLiving Programme is another vehicle from which we can encourage school children and teenagers to really look at their eating habits in particular and start to make healthier choices on a daily basis. It’s pleasing to welcome the cabinet minister along today to see first-hand the fantastic work we do with both these organisations, both in their own right and when we bring them together.”  

Kathryn Neil, SGF Healthy Living Programme commented

It was an honour to host the event at Bo’ness today and welcome the Minister and the school children to the store. It was a great opportunity for the HLP team to demonstrate the work that they carry out with local convenience stores and linking the communities together. Now more than ever it is important to lead a healthier lifestyle and it is promising to witness the work that convenience stores are carrying out to achieve the awareness of a healthy life style.  This is showcased through the work that Spar Scotland undertake with HLP and through their partnership with the SFA.

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