The Fitness Industry Association (FIA) has welcomed the announcement by the Department of Health (DH) that it will pilot a youth activity programme for 16-to 22-year-olds in five local authorities.

The £1m, two-year pilot, expected to start this summer in approved gyms, will provide thousands of young people full access to health club facilities and to the clubs’ fitness professionals for programmes and advice.

If the pilot is successful, the DH has indicated that it will consider rolling out the programme nationally. The five local authorities involved in the pilot are yet to be announced.

Andrée Deane, CEO of the FIA, says: “As an industry, we applaud the introduction of such an innovative initiative and unreservedly endorse the government’s ambition to use intervention and motivation as drivers to change the behaviours of young people.”