MORE than 11,000 Aberdeen children are learning to swim thanks to a successful partnership between Scottish Swimming, Scottish Water and local Aquatic Providers.
Children from across the region – some as young as babies – have signed up to the Learn to Swim programme which aims to create a new generation of safe and confident swimmers.
Lessons have been run by Sport Aberdeen, Aberdeen Sports Village and Aberdeen Amateur Swimming Club at 12 pools in Aberdeen – which has allowed around 11,306 kids to come through the programme in the last three years.
Across Scotland, 39 Leisure Trusts and Aquatic Providers, covering more than 170 pools, have provided lessons to nearly 106,000 kids over the three years, smashing the target of reaching 100,000 three months ahead of schedule.
Scots pool hero Duncan Scott, the Learn to Swim programme ambassador, who is in hard training for Olympic trials, praised the success of the partnership.
Duncan, a multi Olympic, World, Commonwealth and European medal winner, said: “As someone who loves beating records, it is amazing to see that the programme has not only reached its target – it has smashed it.
“Getting children into the pool so that they can have fun while learning how to stay safe is the number one priority. It would be amazing to see children become interested in taking a love for swimming further.
“Whether they simply become regulars at the pool with their friends or whether this inspires the next generation of competitive swimmers who could one day represent Scotland or GB at the Olympics, nothing but good things can come from encouraging more and more children into the water.”
The Learn to Swim programme is part of Scottish Swimming’s National Framework for Swimming in Scotland, an initiative which aims to provide quality environments for children to learn to swim. Scottish Water’s decision to form a three-year partnership with Scottish Swimming has been instrumental in allowing the Framework to be rolled out across Scotland more quickly than planned.
Alison Low, Head Teacher at Aberdeen Learn to Swim said: “Since following the Scottish Swimming Learn to Swim Framework in partnership with Scottish Water, Aberdeen Learn to Swim has continued to grow and we pride ourselves on being as inclusive and diverse as possible. We believe every child can learn to swim and deserves the chance.”
Dianne Breen, Coached Programmes Manager at Sport Aberdeen, said: “The Scottish Swimming scheme, which is delivered by Aquatics Aberdeen, part of registered charity Sport Aberdeen, is now widely recognised within the city as a high quality initiative and is a key component of the sustained growth in our Learn To Swim programme that has been in place since signing up to the scheme.
“Our swimming teachers are kept fully up to date with the regular CPDs which keeps them motivated to deliver high quality lessons week-in, week-out, over the 50 weeks of the year that we operate, helping to inspire more people to engage in physical activity.”
The Learn to Swim Framework is aimed at youngsters from birth to 11-years-old and provides consistently high-quality teaching at least once a week and which progresses through a series of lessons and levels over a number of years.
A key focus has been the drive to encourage more children with disabilities into mainstream swimming lessons, particularly through Scottish Swimming’s #SeeMyAbility campaign.
To underline that commitment, Toni Shaw, who won six medals at the recent World Para Swimming Championships, has been appointed as the programme’s second Ambassador – joining Duncan Scott.
Euan Lowe, Scottish Swimming chief executive officer, said: “When we set the ambitious 100,000 target three years ago we were unsure when we would reach it, so, to achieve this ahead of the deadline – and some 6% ahead of target – is a terrific achievement and one that everyone connected with the programme should be proud of.
“The partnership with Scottish Water means we are reaching more children than ever before and have been able to support Sport Aberdeen by offering additional resources, enhancing the quality learn to swim experience the children and young people have. I’d like to thank Scottish Water for their ongoing support and Sport Aberdeen, Aberdeen Sports Village and Aberdeen Amateur Swimming Club who deliver the lessons each week in the local area.
“It is thrilling to see our common goals of equipping children with the skills they need to be safe in and around water are really starting to have an impact.”
Brian Lironi, Director of External Communications with Scottish Water, said: “It is staggering to think that there are now 106,000 young people who now have the chance to learn to swim and benefit from this nationwide programme.
“We want to support a flourishing Scotland and the Learn to Swim programme is a shining example of that – encouraging children to be safe and confident in and around water at the same time as having fun.
“We are also delighted to see that so many children with disabilities are coming through the programme, underlining that there should be no barriers to all young people learning to swim.”
More information on the National Learn to Swim Framework and #SeeMyAbility can be found on the dedicated website: www.learntoswim.scot
Further information and details on how to get in touch with Aberdeen Learn to Swim can be found at: https://aberdeenlts.org.uk
A popular Granite City snowsports centre is set to run the first block of a programme for people with additional support needs since some of its members struck gold at the Special Olympics GB National Alpine Skiing Competition this month (February).
Adventure Aberdeen Snowsports, operated by award-winning charity Sport Aberdeen, runs a pathway programme for anyone from age four and over with additional support needs.
The programme aims to offer a parallel pathway to the mainstream programme in order to allow everyone in the north-east the opportunity to get involved with snowsports, regardless of age, ability or gender.
Graeme Dale, Sport Aberdeen Head of Sport and Active Communities, said:
“Providing opportunities for all individuals, regardless of ability or any perceived barriers, to take part in sport and work together to brings a great sense of achievement to both the participants and the team.
“As a registered charity Sport Aberdeen is committed to creating opportunities for everyone to take part in sport. We have such a brilliant facility right on our doorstep and I would encourage those who are keen to take to the slopes to get in touch.”
Beth Woodall, Adventure Aberdeen Snowsports Senior Instructor, said:
“I am really proud that we are able to deliver an additional support needs pathway as part of our extensive snowsports programme here in Aberdeen, and the achievements that we see week in and out, along with the smiles that come with it, are so rewarding.”
Adventure Aberdeen Snowsports run the programme in partnership with Special Olympics Grampian to provide opportunities for eligible athletes to take part in Special Olympics registered events.
Special Olympics Grampian Area (SOGA) athlete, Emily Plant who trains on the pathway programme recently won a gold medal in the Giant Slalom event at the Special Olympics GB National Alpine Skiing Competition in Switzerland.
Speaking of the importance of the additional support needs pathway programme, Emily Plant said:
“The programme is great because the instructors are really friendly, and you get to meet people with disabilities like yourself.
“You go on trips away with your friends to new countries competing on snow and having lots of fun. I am very lucky to be a part of the programme.”
If you are interested in participating in the Adventure Aberdeen Snowsports ASN programme, which will commence on 26 February, please email snowsports@sportaberdeen.co.uk
Staff in care homes across the north-east are being provided with the skills to lead their own strength and balance sessions thanks to a popular partnership designed to improve quality of life through walking.
Sport Aberdeen and ‘Paths for All’, a charity that aims to significantly increase the number of people who choose to walk in Scotland, are set to run a training programme for Bon Accord Care staff working at sheltered housing complexes in Aberdeen.
The First Steps programme, which successfully delivered training to 13 Bon Accord Care staff from nine sheltered housing complexes in November last year, will allow them to promote and provide regular physical activity sessions for their residents.
The First Steps programme, which is run by Sport Aberdeen’s Healthy Communities team with funding from Paths for All, aims to increase functional fitness and daily walking amongst people not currently able to take part in walking groups.
Jill Franks, Sport Aberdeen Director of Performance and Planning, said:
“Sport Aberdeen and Paths for All share a mutual goal of getting more people active, regardless of age, ability or situation and we are delighted to be working together to help deliver these training sessions with Bon Accord Care.
“The training sessions have already proved to be a powerful tool in enabling those living in sheltered housing to improve their mobility and access a better quality of life through regular activity and we are looking forward to helping bring this training to even more staff in the coming sessions.
“By encouraging regular strength and balance exercises and going for short, low level walks, these sessions enable people to be more active and able to undertake the tasks of daily living such as walking in and around the home and to the shops”
Speaking of the upcoming training course, Louise McCann, Bon Accord Care Reablement Facilitator and Falls Quality Improvement Lead said:
“We have arranged the training for the staff team at Quarryhill Court as part of the Bon Accord Care Falls Management Quality Improvement Group. The group made up of support staff, supervisors and Occupational Therapists were keen to focus on engaging tenants in early intervention and promoting self-management.
“It is our intention that these sessions will be provided across all buildings supported by Bon Accord Care staff”
Award-winning charity Sport Aberdeen hosted a special sporting extravaganza to encourage young children to stay active throughout school holidays.
Active Schools Aberdeen, part of Sport Aberdeen, yesterday (Wednesday 19 February) hosted a free sporting festival at Kincorth Sport Centre for children in the community from primary one to three.
Active Schools is sportscotland’s national initiative that aims to get more children, more active, more often.
The participants took part in several sporting activities throughout the morning working in teams, allowing them to meet new children whilst getting active.
One of the children who took part in the festival, said:
“My favourite thing was the assault course, I liked jumping off the stand onto the big mat!”
The event was organised by Active Schools coordinators with help from several Robert Gordon University students currently carrying out work placements with Sport Aberdeen as part of the Aberdeen Youth Games partnership.
Graeme Dale, Sport Aberdeen Head of Sport and Active Communities, said:
“By organising free sporting events such as this we can ensure that more children and young people have the opportunity to engage in sort and physical activity more often, particularly during school holidays, whilst meeting people and making new friends.
“The event was also a brilliant chance for the students here on placement with Sport Aberdeen to try their hand at running, delivering and organising sporting events within the community, giving them real hands on experience for a future within the sporting sector.”
Dr Katherine Burgess, Sport and Exercise Science Academic Team Lead, Robert Gordon University, said:
“RGU’s partnership with Sport Aberdeen gives our BSc(hons) Sport Coaching students a fantastic experience to allow them to develop and enhance their skills, it also gives them the opportunity to enthuse and inspire young people as we strive to work together to make the nation more active”
Two Granite City charities have joined forces to tee off a golf tournament, culminating in a champions final’s day, to raise vital funds for local sick children and their families throughout Aberdeen and the north-east.
Award winning charity Sport Aberdeen and The ARCHIE Foundation are working in partnership to run a six-week Open Tournament which will be held across four of the city’s most spectacular golf courses, running from Saturday 28 March until Friday 8 May 2020.
Throughout the duration of the tournament, anyone who plays a round of golf at one of Sport Aberdeen’s four golf courses; MacKenzie Championship, Hazlehead Pines, Kings Links and Balnagask; will have the chance to make an additional £5 donation to enter the ARCHIE Open, with all donations going straight to The ARCHIE Foundation.
Scores will be recorded, and the ARCHIE Open leader board published weekly in the Evening Express.
The Open final will take place on Friday 15 May when the top 72 players from the tournament will be invited to compete at the MacKenzie Championship Course to be crowned the ARCHIE Open champion.
Tony Dawson, Sport Aberdeen Chairman, said:
“Sport Aberdeen runs four of the most stunning golf courses in the area and I am thrilled that both charities are teaming up to help raise vital funds for such a deserving cause. The ARCHIE Foundation supports so many families in the north-east and I am proud that Sport Aberdeen has partnered up with them for this exciting tournament.
“Golf is a fantastic sport that people of all ages and abilities can take part in and it is my hope that everyone, no matter their golfing capability, will seize this brilliant opportunity to get out, have fun and get active whilst rallying together to raise money for charity.”
David Downie, Director of Business Services, The ARCHIE Foundation said;
“We are delighted to be partnering Sport Aberdeen for this amazing tournament. The first in a series of exciting collaborations between our two fantastic charities. We are hoping the ARCHIE Open will get people out on the courses playing this fantastic sport all whilst helping raise vital funds for local sick children and their families.”
The ARCHIE Foundation is a charity that makes the difference for local sick children when they are in hospital or require long-term medical treatment. Every year, the charity impacts the lives of around 200,000 children and their families, with all funds going towards making the experience of being in hospital as good as it can possibly be for children and young people.
Further information on the ARCHIE Open can be found at www.sportaberdeen.co.uk/the-archie-foundation-charity-golf-open.
Registered charity Sport Aberdeen has been shortlisted as a finalist in the ‘Team Aberdeen’ category at this year’s HEART Awards.
The annual HEART Awards, organised by Aberdeen City Health & Social Care Partnership, recognise people working and volunteering in health and social care in Aberdeen and aim to have ‘exceptional achievement recognised together’.
The Active Lifestyles programme, run by Sport Aberdeen, has been shortlisted and recognised for being heavily involved in several collaborative initiatives and programmes over the years.
The programme provides inclusive opportunities for everyone to get active and participate in physical activity regardless of whether they are starting out, recovering from injury, living with a long-term health condition or are older adults.
Of note, the co-design and delivery of the ‘Carers Stable and Able Group’, which runs on a weekly basis with support from NHS Occupational Therapy staff has been recognised.
The new and innovative approach to delivering classes for both carers and the ones they care for was developed in response to a need identified by NHS Grampian colleagues. The Carers Stable and Able classes allow both participants to take part in the sessions which are designed for those who have previously taken part in a 12-week rehabilitation class delivered by the NHS.
The ongoing support from Sport Aberdeen enables people to continue to exercise within a community setting, reducing their risk of a fall and the potential for re-referral back to NHS services.
The awards ceremony will take place on Friday 27 March, at the Aberdeen Beach Ballroom.
Keith Gerrard, Sport Aberdeen Director of Healthy and Active Lifestyles, said:
“I am thrilled that Sport Aberdeen has been recognised and shortlisted for an award at this year’s event. The nomination is testament to the incredible work that is carried out by the Active Lifestyles team throughout the year.
“Through the many projects, services, programmes and events that the organisation works on in partnership with others, we truly believe that we can help to change lives through sport and physical activity.”
We join with the rest of the organisations in the city who are saddened to hear of the closure of the Doubletree Treetops Hotel and the 7 Health & Fitness Health Club. We want to see if we can help by offering employment opportunities and we would encourage the staff to get in touch in regards to vacancies that we have in our facility network across the city.
We also realise that many regular users have lost access to the fitness club, possibly having paid in advance, so we are offering the opportunity for people to transfer to a Sport Aberdeen Get Active membership. We will give everyone the first month free who wants to join us and there will be other benefits as we are keen to help people stay active.
We also understand many people will have lost access to swimming lessons and again will offer free introductory lessons for anyone who would like to transfer onto the Aquatics Aberdeen programme, run by Sport Aberdeen.
Alistair S. Robertson, Sport Aberdeen Managing Director, said: “Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected and we hope our charity can offer some support, whether to staff or regular users of the 7 Health & Fitness Health Club and I encourage people to get in touch through our office.”
All those interested in talking to a member of the Sport Aberdeen HR team about potential employment opportunities should contact 01224 507704.
For all Get Active membership options please contact 01224 507711 and for enquiries into the Aquatics Aberdeen programme please call 01224 047934.
We encourage people to get in touch before the end of February.
Free coaching clinics to support school sport in Aberdeen
Active Schools Aberdeen, part of registered charity Sport Aberdeen, will host a series of training and development courses aimed at volunteer sports coaches in schools who are interested in improving their skills.
This series of free coaching clinics will be offered throughout February, after a hugely successful delivery last year, and are designed to engage with the local school sporting community, supporting everyone to deliver the highest possible standard of coaching across the city.
Sport Aberdeen has brought together Regional Development Managers and sport clubs who, along with Active Schools Aberdeen Coordinators, will run and deliver a number of free training sessions for pupils, parents and teachers who volunteer in extra-curricular programmes.
Keith Gerrard, Sport Aberdeen Director of Healthy and Active Communities, said:
“From teachers, coaches and volunteers to young leaders, senior pupils and parents, it is my hope that this free opportunity will be seized to brush up on skills, or pursue a passion, which will in turn be passed on to inspire participants.”
The clinics are aimed at helping anyone who is interested in coaching in schools within Aberdeen. Participants will gain valuable insight and helpful tips from qualified coaches. The sessions are being delivered citywide in order to engage with as many people as possible, all completely free of charge.
Mr Gerrard continued:
“These clinics are for anyone who is looking to either get their foot in the door in a particular sport, or even just to freshen up their ideas with tips and useful information around best practice for effective delivery of sports coaching in schools.
“Sport Aberdeen recognises the importance of supporting the sporting voluntary sector and is committed to creating opportunities for more people to get active, whether that be through participation or leading sessions themselves.”
All the sessions are free of charge and bookable via the Sport Aberdeen website: https://bit.ly/2OH0ATw
Last week we waved off Special Olympics Grampian Area (SOGA) athletes who are currently representing Grampian in the Special Olympics GB National Alpine Skiing Competition in Switzerland. You may have seen Emily Plant’s story on BBC Nine last week – https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p081y93s
We are thrilled to share that she won gold in the Giant Slalom event yesterday!
The event involved skiers racing down through gates spaced apart. The weather was challenging, with wind and heavy snow, but the competitors did well and stuck it out to carry on. Emily was racing for Grampian and came 1st in her category of intermediate division 2, winning herself a gold medal. She did so well in fact that she has been moved up a division, to female division 1, meaning she will face even tougher competition on the next couple of days! Follow her story here over the next week!
Emily commented on her triumph yesterday:
“I went for the win and I got gold! The race went very well. I loved going fast through the gates.
The rest of the team did really well in their races too. I’m really happy for everyone!”
Today (Wednesday) will see the Super Giant Slalom, regarded as a speed event, and we are excited to see how Emily and the rest of the athletes get on.
Beth Woodall, Adventure Aberdeen Snowsports Senior Instructor, who is in Switzerland with the athletes, commented on yesterday’s win:
“We are all so proud of the competitors, there were really tough conditions and I think the Swiss all thought we were mad battling through the elements!
“We won a number of medals in gold silver and bronze with some very close results so we’re looking forward to the next couple of days with the Super G and Slalom. Best of all everyone came off the hill with smiles!”
Registered charity Sport Aberdeen runs an additional support needs pathway programme at Adventure Aberdeen Snowsports where SOGA athletes train on a Wednesday. If you are interested in participating in the programme, please email snowsports@sportaberdeen.co.uk
North-east gym and fitness users are set to receive even greater membership benefits thanks to an initiative providing free access to leisure facilities across Scotland.
Award-winning charity Sport Aberdeen has joined the ‘Leisure Link Partnership’, giving its members access to gym, public swimming and fitness classes at participating leisure facilities across Scotland, at no extra cost to their existing membership.
From Monday 3rd February, Sport Aberdeen members will be able to get active at participating venues in Orkney, Moray, the Highlands, Western Isles, Argyll and Bute and the Borders.
David Selkirk, Sport Aberdeen Director of Community Leisure Operations, said:
“Sport Aberdeen prides itself on the services we offer within the city so being able to extend that offering of quality leisure facilities across the country, in association with like-minded leisure trusts, is something that we are excited to present to our members.
“We hope the added value that this partnership brings to our membership encourages people to keep up with a healthy and active lifestyle whether on holiday in Scotland or away for work.”
Sport Aberdeen are also offering a free month of membership to all who sign up for a Get Active 1-5, Active Futures or Active Lifestyles 65+ membership before the end of February.
For more information visit www.sportaberdeen.co.uk/leisure-link-partnership