Scots tennis coach hopes ‘Learn to Lead’ will promote healthy, active lifestyles
Judy Murray has today (Thursday 5 June) launched an exciting new initiative to equip and empower young girls to become Scotland’s next generation of sporting leaders.
The Learn to Lead programme will see the tennis coach work with schools across Scotland to inspire and support youngsters to stay active and develop leadership skills.
Murray, a former GB Federation Cup captain and mother to two former world number one tennis players, Jamie and Andy Murray, believes urgent action is needed to turn around a worrying trend which continues to see millions of girls drop out of sports as they enter their teenage years.
Research conducted by Women in Sport found that 1.3 million teenage girls who had previously considered themselves ‘sporty’ are dropping out of exercise and activity when they leave primary school.
Learn to Lead looks to target youngsters ahead of their move to high school, giving them the opportunity not only to play sport, but to coach it too.
The programme will give p6 and p7 pupils (aged 10-12 years) the chance to develop basic leadership and organisational skills by empowering them to set up and run lunchtime or after school tennis clubs for p1 to p4 girls (aged 4-9 years).
The clubs, which can be run in school gyms or playgrounds, will incorporate fun-filled games and exercises in a playful environment, building on Murray’s successful Miss Hits programme, which was launched UK-wide in 2014.
Although a teacher will be required to supervise, Learn to Lead allows older primary pupils to take charge by planning, setting up, demonstrating and running activities for the younger girls, sharing their knowledge and passion for the sport.
Initially, Murray will partner with 20 schools across Scotland, targeting primary schools with a local tennis club or equivalent facilities nearby, ensuring girls have a convenient place they can continue playing should they wish to do so.
Learn to Lead has been piloted in Aberdeen city and Aberdeenshire, where dozens of youngsters have been introduced to both tennis and leadership, with many now progressing to play with local clubs.
Judy Murray said: “As a female tennis coach, I want to inspire the next generation of girls to learn to lead sporting activity so I can be confident that once I have retired, we have a well-trained coaching workforce in place and ready to continue growing the girl’s side of the game.
“I believe Learn to Lead will help us to not just get girls playing sport at a young age but keep them engaged throughout their lives and perhaps even provide a route towards careers in coaching or developing sport.
“My life has revolved around sport and as well as the obvious physical and mental health benefits that brings, the life skills you develop by being part of a sport really prepare you for what adulthood will throw at you. And of course, the friendships you form often last a lifetime.
“It worries me that so many girls drop out of sport in their teenage years. I hope this programme can help address some of the issues around this by providing a fun and friendly atmosphere with development options too.
“Whether girls go on to become competitive players, coaches or just develop a love for sport at any level, this is about growing participation and getting young girls active.
“I am really proud of what Miss Hits has already achieved, and hope that over the coming months we can build on this with our junior workforce leading the way.”
Sarah Fraser, lead active schools coordinator (projects) at Sport Aberdeen, said: “Learn to Lead has been a huge hit. From our initial work with the programme we have already seen huge benefits for the girls involved. For some of the younger girls this has been the first sports club they’ve been involved in, and it has given them a chance to try out tennis. For the older girls who are leading the classes, we have been struck by the confidence and leadership skills they have gained.
“I would definitely encourage schools to get involved. Learn to Lead is easy to pick up and deliver, and it is a great way to support girls to not just try sports, but to continue playing and develop their skills as they approach their teenage years and beyond.”
Sport Aberdeen was thrilled to be crowned Scottish Water’s ‘Learn to Swim Provider of the Year’ at the Scottish Swimming annual awards, which took place at P&J Live in Aberdeen on Saturday 21st September.
The award recognised Sport Aberdeen’s exceptional dedication to creating and delivering its highly acclaimed learn to swim programme, available for babies through to adults.
Currently, the charity provides swimming lessons to more than 5,500 children every week across its six citywide pools, alongside lessons for children with additional support needs, adults and those with a fear of water (aquaphobia). It also provides free swimming lessons for all Primary 4 pupils in Aberdeen.
Sport Aberdeen has a clear pathway for swimmers, starting out at Level 1 and looking to progress to club ready level, having links with various swim clubs in the city.
The same can be said for its employee pathway, the charity is committed to staff development and has the opportunity for individuals to start as volunteer helpers then progress to become Aquatics Teachers.
Sport Aberdeen Coached Programme Team celebrating the award
Dianne Breen, Coached Programme Manager, said: “This recognition of all our teachers hard work in providing fun and engaging lessons for children of all ages is incredible.
“Learning to swim is a vital life skill, and seeing so many children grow in confidence as they move through lessons is fantastic.
“Thanks to Scottish Swimming and Scottish Water for their continued support, and for recognising Sport Aberdeen as provider as the year.”
Dianne Breen, Coached Programme Manager with award
Euan Lowe, CEO at Scottish Swimming said: “We’re consistently impressed by the dedication of excellent local authorities, leisure trusts, and aquatic providers working towards the common goal of teaching this vital life skill across the country.
“We believe that everyone can swim, and all providers do a fantastic job in their roles teaching these valuable life skills, the panel of judges had a very tough choice to make.
“Sport Aberdeen has shown exceptional commitment to delivering lessons at the highest level and ensuring children become safer in the water, showing that the Learn to Swim programme is going from strength to strength.”
Peter Farrer, Chief Operating Officer at Scottish Water said: “It’s great to see the good work that Sport Aberdeen is doing in their drive to deliver high quality lessons and encourage as many young people as possible into the pool – learning to swim is such an important safety skill.
“The Scottish Water Learn to Swim Provider of the Year award gives us an incredible opportunity not only to celebrate and thank everyone involved in the Learn to Swim National Framework for the good work they all do, but also recognise all of the outstanding leisure providers across the country.
“With their help, and hundreds of others across the country, we’re making a really positive difference in creating Generation Swim, a generation of confident, safer and competent swimmers, who not only learn a vital life skill but will also get to experience the wider health and social benefits that swimming can offer.”
10 athletes from Special Olympics Great Britain (GB) descended on Aberdeen as part of a training weekend in advance of the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy.
Eight athletes came along to Adventure Aberdeen Snowsports Centre on Saturday 13 July to practice skiing and two athletes practiced ice skating at Linx Ice Arena on Sunday 14 July.
Special Olympics Great Britain is a registered charity, which uses the power of sport to transform the lives of children and adults with an intellectual disability.
As part of the global Special Olympics movement, the Special Olympics World Winter Games is a quadrennial event, which takes place in 2025 across Italy and France, from 8 to 15 March, bringing together more than 1,500 athletes from 103 countries to compete in eight winter sports.
Within this, the Team Special Olympics Great Britain delegation will participate in the Alpine Skiing and Figure Skating competitions.
The ten athletes competed in their sports earlier this year at the first Special Olympics GB National Winter Games in Folgaria, Italy, before they were nominated and subsequently selected by the coaching and management team, who assessed multiple criteria including commitment to training, life goals, leadership skills and more.
Bob Thow, Alpine Skiing Head Coach at Special Olympics GB, said: “I would like to thank Sport Aberdeen for allowing Team SOGB to use their sport facilities for the first training weekend in preparation for the World Winter Games in Italy and France.
“It was very beneficial to the athletes as some of the coaches are from Sport Aberdeen and know the facilities at the Adventure Aberdeen Snowsports Centre.
“Linx Ice Arena and Get active @ Lochside have put together a training programme for each athlete in the lead up to the World Winter Games. The athletes really enjoyed their weekend in Aberdeen.”
Kris Bell, Operations Manager at Adventure Aberdeen Snowsports Centre, said: “We were delighted to host the Special Olympics GB team for their training session this year.
“We have a great relationship with the team having held training sessions before, and it’s great to see the team progress and have fun whilst they are here!”
A popular annual event providing games and entertainment for people with additional support needs celebrated its milestone 25th anniversary this year.
Organised by Bill Farquhar, supported by Andrinne Craig from Sport Aberdeen and Jim Byers from the Aberdeen City and Shire Hotels Association (ACSHA), Aberdeen Funolympics took place on November 12 at the Beach Ballroom and hosted a variety of team challenges inspired by different sporting activities.
Volunteers from across the Aberdeen hotel community and Sport Aberdeen employees were on hand to support teams as they navigated through the sports activity stations.
Recognised as a civic event, Aberdeen City Council kindly provided use of the Beach Ballroom as well as the post-games buffet and disco.
15teams participated, and the winning team was Henry Rae Centre. The Endeavor Award is presented to the participant who shows determination, teamwork and joy in taking part, and this year the winner was Courtney Reid from Create Aberdeen. All participants were awarded a medal from the Lord Provost Dr David Cameron and his wife Hazel, Len Ironside CBE and Frank Whitaker, Chair of ACSHA.
Sport Aberdeen received a generous donation of £1,000 from ACSHA to arrange further sports activities for individuals with additional support needs.
Lord Provost of Aberdeen, Dr David Cameron, said: “I was delighted to be present for the 25th anniversary of the Fun Games. The event has been established on the community calendar as one that celebrates all that’s good about sport – teamwork, camaraderie, and of course the sheer enjoyment.
“The games are an enduring example of what can be achieved when organisations and volunteers get together behind a great idea. The success is down to the efforts of many, not least the participants and the enthusiasm they bring to the event.”
Andrinne Craig, Healthy Communities Manager, said: “Funolympics is always a joy to be a part of – it provided an afternoon full of fun, entertainment and laughter and it was great to witness all the teams enjoying themselves.
“Thank you to everyone who helped to organise the event and those who volunteered, the afternoon would not be possible without your contributions.
“We are so grateful to Aberdeen City and Shire Hotels Association for its £1,000 donation to Sport Aberdeen. This will go towards providing more regular sporting opportunities open to those who attend the Funolympics each year, such as our new Boccia sessions at Cummings Park Community Centre.”
Frank Whitaker, General Manager at Park Inn by Radisson and Chair of Aberdeen City and Shire Hotels Association, said: “When you see first-hand how much fun everyone has at the Funolympics, it’s easy to understand why teams from ACSHA Member Hotels look forward to supporting this event every year. It is very worthwhile and a testament to the hard work from Bill, Andrinne and Jim that it continues to be the success that it still is after 25 years.”
Bill Farquhar, said: “It has been an amazing journey to witness the growth and continued success of the Funolympics and to celebrate its 25th event held in November this year.
“Quite a few of our participants have been with us since the very first Funolympics which was held in the Duthie Park in 1997. The event continues to attract new teams of all abilities and ages and the joy on all their faces competing in the fun filled games gives testament to the popularity of the Funolympics.
“The continued support from Aberdeen City and Shire Hotels Association throughout the years has been fantastic and very much appreciated.
“I would also like to thank Sport Aberdeen and Aberdeen City Council for their support in making the Funolympics the success it has been.”
Local charity Sport Aberdeen is thrilled to achieve the Paths for All ‘Walk at Work’ Award, demonstrating its dedication to improving staff health and wellbeing, and encouraging workplace walking.
To accomplish the award, Sport Aberdeen submitted evidence of its actions across three key areas: walking culture, walking community and walking facilities.
Employees at the charity’s headquarters and those working across its citywide venues have been inspired to walk and move more during the working day through various initiatives including dedicated walking champions, participation in the Paths for All Step Count Challenges in spring and autumn each year, and organised social walks at weekends.
One of Sport Aberdeen’s walking champions and HR Business Partner Kerryn McRae completed the Workplace Walking Course through Paths for All earlier in May.
Through its Walk Aberdeen programme, the charity offers a range of free weekly health walks led and supported by trained health walk leaders. These take place across the city and have meeting points in Dyce, Bridge of Don, Sheddocksley, Kingswells, Altens, Rosemount, Cults and Ferryhill.
By promoting walking as an easy way to get to and from work and meetings, Sport Aberdeen is reducing its carbon footprint and helping to reduce congestion and emissions in Aberdeen. The charity has encouraged active travel through other challenges including Love to Ride’s Bike Month and Love to Ride’s Cycle September Challenge.
Emma Murray, Communications Manager, said: “We were delighted to receive the Walk at Work Award from Paths for All, recognising our commitment to encouraging employees to walk more, keep active and reap the benefits of doing so.
“All contracted staff at Sport Aberdeen receive a free Fitness membership which is a great way to get active through swimming, going to the gym or attending fitness classes all across the city.
“We have made a real effort to promote workplace walking and there is always a buzz when the Step Count Challenges are on, plus a bit of healthy competition!
“Overall, it’s rewarding to have our efforts recognised.”
Recent findings from UK workplaces reveal that half of all employees experience poor mental health at work, including stress, anxiety and depression. Regular walking can reduce the effects of poor mental health, particularly walking in greenspace.
Scotland’s walking charity Paths for All set up the award to help tackle poor health in the workplace and reverse the trend of inactive workplaces where staff sit for up to nine hours a day. The charity provided Sport Aberdeen with one-to-one support to set up activities to get their workforce walking.
Carl Greenwood, Senior Development Officer at Paths for All, said: “Congratulations to Sport Aberdeen for achieving our Walk at Work Award. It’s brilliant to see Scottish workplaces take the leadin creating a work-based walking culture and making improvements to staff health and wellbeing.”
“Research shows that employees who are physically active in and around the working day take fewer sick days, are more motivated and productive, and are more able to concentrate, so walking is not just good for us, it’s good for business.
“I would urge any Scottish workplace to follow Sport Aberdeen’s lead and use Paths for All’s support to take small steps to a healthier workforce.”
Taking part is free and open to any Scottish workplace that wants to promote an active workforce. Find out more here.
We hope you have enjoyed playing golf over the summer period on our courses and we would like to thank you for being a part of Golf Aberdeen during 2023.
Thanks to your ongoing support, we are able to reinvest back into our courses over the winter season, and we are pleased to let you know that our winter golf protocols and improvements programme will commence from Friday 1 December.
Working in partnership with turf specialists Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) and our grounds maintenance contractor idverde UK, the planned improvements will provide course protection measures over the winter period and help enhance conditions on our courses for our customers and members teeing off into the 2024 season.
Winter Golf Protocols
Please be aware that the following course protection measures will be implemented from Friday 1 December:
- Fairway mats will be compulsory on all courses. Please use these when teeing off with an iron, on the fairway and around the greenside. Mats are not required from the rough.
- Bunkers have been taken out of play and are now designated as ground under repair (GUR), please lift and drop from the bunkers at no penalty.
- Tee boxes will be moved, and tee mats will be introduced, particularly on par-three holes.
- Walking routes will be introduced to protect well-trodden areas and allow recovery. Please respect roped areas and walk around these as directed by on course signage.
- Temporary Greens will be used when ground frost conditions dictate.
Please note: during January and February 2024 an intensive programme of greens renovations works will take place, lasting 4-6 weeks (weather dependant) across all our golf courses. Temporary greens will be available during this time.
MacKenzie Championship and Hazlehead Pines Golf Course protection measures
During the winter period from 1 January through to March 2024 we will close each course on alternate weeks from Monday to Friday with both courses being reopened for the weekend (again, this will be weather dependant).
This will allow for extensive golf course maintenance to take place and allow the fairways and greens to recover over the winter period. This programme will help to ensure the courses are able to be presented in the best possible conditions for the 2024 season starting in April.
Additional Winter Improvement Works Programme
As well as the routine improvement works including traffic management and seeding worn areas in preparation for the new season, there will be an extensive programme of winter works carried out at each of our golf courses. Details of these are outlined below:
Hazlehead MacKenzie Golf Course
- Level fairway drainage lines on 15th fairway
- Gravel banding to primary drains on 16th fairway
- Level and returf 12th tee box
- Bunker maintenance programme including sand top up
- Tree management programme
Hazlehead Pines Golf Course
- Lay drainage pipes and fill ditches on 11, 12 and 14th fairways
- Install new fairway drainage measures at front right of 14th green
- Bunker maintenance programme including sand top up
- Tree management programme
- Supply new tee markers to enhance course presentation
Hazlehead 9-Hole Golf Course
- Create open v-ditch to catch and channel water from 4th and 5th fairways
- Gravel banding measures to help with fairway drainage
Kings Links Golf Course
- Removal of 2,600m2 of Gorse along 6th & 12th fairways to improve course aesthetics and remove rabbit habitat
- Gorse removal on left of 17th fairway and create naturalised bunker
- Bunker maintenance programme including sand top up
- Supply new tee markers to enhance course presentation
Balnagask Golf Course
- Level and returf 18th tee box
- Bunker maintenance programme including sand top up
- Supply new tee markers to enhance course presentation
We thank all of our golf members and pay and play users for their support and patience as we carry out these important works.
The role of a Young Ambassador is to motivate and inspire more young people to engage in sport and physical activity through various environments such as within schools, clubs and local communities.
Young Ambassadors help to promote extracurricular activities, connect with community sport opportunities, foster healthy competition, celebrate student achievements, offer leadership opportunities and enhance physical education in schools.
In doing so, they significantly contribute to creating a positive culture of sport and physical activity participation and development.
Cults Academy Latest
In September, Cults Academy Young Ambassadors (YAs) in S3 took a proactive approach to engage with local girls in their community, sparking an initiative that not only encouraged physical activity, but also empowered young females. The focus was to celebrate Scottish Women & Girls in Sport week by visiting the feeder primary schools to coordinate and deliver various activities.
Empowering Young Girls
At each primary school – Cults, Culter and Miltimber – the girls were invited to participate in a lunchtime girls-only session to get involved in dance workouts and dodgeball. The YAs were empowered to design the classes on their own, organising their own dance routine and making their own dodgeball ruleset.
Additionally, the YAs took the opportunity to have some short discussions with the pupils, highlighting the importance of sport and physical activity for girls and emphasising values such as fair play, leadership, and helping others.
Recognising Excellence
To create a sense of achievement at the sessions, the YAs encouraged the girls to nominate a dodgeball “Girl of the Day”. This helped them to think about fair play, team work and positive camaraderie.
Impressive Participation
The initiative saw an impressive turnout, with over 100 P5 and P6 girls actively participating in the lunchtime sessions. The success of the programme was evident as one enthusiastic P6 participant exclaimed: “Can we do that again tomorrow?!”
Building on Success
Following on from the success of these activities, the YAs have put together an after school Active Girls Festival planned for later in the year. The goal of the festival will be to continue the fantastic work that the YAs have done so far, as well as reaching more pupils from other age groups.
John Dixon, Lead Active Schools Coordinator for Cults ASG and Orchard Brae, said: “It was great to see the girls-only lunchtime events prove so popular!”; “Katie and Lara, our Young Ambassadors at Cults Academy, did a great job organising and running the events and we’re looking forward to the upcoming Active Girls Festival to build on the success.”