A RISING star with a West Fife-based sports club has joined former football and basketball players in driving a national wellbeing campaign.

Molly Sands, who is part of Fife Synchronised Swimming Club, who train at Carnegie Leisure Centre, has teamed up with former Scotland footballer Crichton, and Kieron Achara, an ex-Team GB and Team Scotland basketball player, to launch sportscotland's '#TrySomethingNew' initiative.

The challenge was launched as part of the national agency for sport's 'Feel Your Personal Best' campaign, being run in association with SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health), to encourage people to take care of their physical and mental wellbeing.

Members of sportscotland's Young People's Sport Panel (YPSP), which includes Molly, 15, and University of Stirling student Paige Boyle, from Kelty, are taking on a new challenge as part of it.

The YPSP, which is currently in its fifth two-year cycle, is an initiative led by sportscotland, with support from Young Scot and the National Lottery, which gives a group of 20 young people the chance to influence decision-making, and drive change, across the sporting system.

Molly, who is trying archery for the campaign, said: "Getting involved in a new sport or physical activity is a great way for young people to put themselves out there, meet new people and try new things.

"It can be scary trying something new, especially if you don't know other people there, but you never know how much you'll enjoy something, and who you'll meet, until you give it a go."

The 'Feel Your Personal Best' campaign launch followed publication of new research that revealed 54 per cent of Scots who were active throughout the pandemic said that taking part in a new sport or activity had a positive impact on their mental health.

Crichton, who currently plays for Motherwell women and is a regular on BBC Scotland's football output, said: "The pandemic has been tough for everyone so it’s now more important than ever that we do what can to take care of our mental and physical wellbeing. Getting out there and trying something new is a great way to do that and I am looking forward to seeing people across the country get behind this campaign."

Basketball legend Achara added: "We all know the importance of good mental health so it is great to see SAMH and sportscotland working collaboratively to encourage people to be more active.

"Go out and try something new; it doesn’t have to be something you perceive to be difficult or challenging, the most important thing is that people get out there and try."