As part of Self Management Week 2016, Sport Aberdeen is showcasing how its programmes and services are creating opportunities, inspiring people and changing lives through sport and physical activity. Today we profile a Healthy, Active Minds participant.
Healthy Active Minds
Participant Case Study April 2016
Participant: James Maitland
Age: 51 years
How long have you been doing sport?
I’ve been involved in activities through Healthy Minds for nearly a year. It’s really helped me. I was bored because I was running out of activities so I joined the Active Healthy Minds group last autumn through my councillor at DA and I haven’t looked back. It’s really enjoyable, you meet nice people and everyone pitches in together to do a different activity every week. It’s brilliant so you’re not stuck doing the same thing every time.
What kind of activities do you do at Active Healthy Minds sessions?
Walking football – I never knew it existed – so we tried that, badminton, pickleball, weights sessions and even just a hike along to Footdee or ‘Fittie’ if you’re from Aberdeen and even the walk was brilliant! A host of activities and they have all been great!
What would you say to people who may be more hesitant to join in the group?
Oh give it a try, at least give it a try. The people are all friendly and we all get on well together. Everyone is apprehensive when they first start something, as I was. My friend Allan comes so that helps, but then you get to know the other people and after the activities you have a cup of tea or coffee and a bit of shortbread and a chat with all of the people about how great it was. It’s amazing, a great group of people.
Have the Active Healthy Minds session encouraged you to join in with other activities?
Yes im now involved in a hiking group each Tuesday and I have joined a gym and my activity level has gone through the roof. My problem was alcohol and now I have so many activities to do it is gradually getting me off that as I was going downhill but being active has been a godsend for me.
Do you feel like these activities help to keep you fit and active?
Oh yes, I am far fitter. I have come down a trouser size already, which is excellent and I would recommend these sessions to anyone. If you are bored like I was get involved. I would drink, but now my activity time is full and I’m glad of that, it’s been a huge help to me. I can’t thank Sport Aberdeen and the Healthy Minds team enough.
Its 2016 family ice show, Once Upon A Christmas, tells the story of a young boy called Charlie who must save Christmas from the evil Blizzard. The show will be performed by talented local skaters who have honed their skills at the Linx Ice Arena, including Learn to Skate participants, local and national medal winning skaters, British synchronised skating champions Team Zariba and the junior Lynx Ice Hockey Team.
Tickets will go on sale for the show on Saturday 1st October, with performances taking place on 17th and 18th of December at 2.30pm. With limited tickets available to the family Ice Show, Sport Aberdeen today encouraged people to book now to avoid disappointment.
Commenting, local coach and one of the show’s choreographer’s, Kerrie Brown said:
“Our Ice Aberdeen elves have been working hard to ensure that Sport Aberdeen sparkles this Christmas.
“Our 2016 Ice Show, Once Upon a Christmas, is set to be a festive adventure for all the family. Our homegrown cast will tell the story of Charlie and his bear as they try to save Christmas from the evil Blizzard.
“With limited availability to our shows, we’ll be making a list and checking it twice. We’d urge parents with (nice) children to book now to avoid disappointment!”
The Beach Leisure Centre has been shortlisted for a prestigious fitness industry award, beating off strong competition to make the finals.
The Sport Aberdeen venue has been shortlisted in the Regional Gym of the Year (Scotland) category at the National Fitness Awards, an annual event which recognises excellence and achievement in gyms throughout the country.
Earlier this year, Sport Aberdeen tasked its fitness development partner Pulse with the dramatic refit of the Beach Leisure Centre gym with state-of-the-art strength and training equipment.
The awards are organised by leading fitness industry magazine Workout, with support from headline sponsor ServiceSport, and in each category up to seven finalists have been selected, who will now go through to the next stage of the judging process where they will be out to impress by showcasing first hand the great work going on in their clubs.
This stage involves a visit to each finalist by a member of the Workout team who will take a look around the facilities and chat to members and staff before compiling a comprehensive report, which will then be passed on to an expert judging panel to decide the lucky winners.
Trophies will then be handed out a glittering awards ceremony on Friday December 2 at The Athena in Leicester, which will be hosted by boxing world champion Ricky Hatton and award winning personal trainer and star of The Apprentice Katie Bulmer-Cooke.
National Fitness Awards’ director Judith Halkerston said:
“The quality and quantity of National Fitness Awards’ entries just keep improving year on year and everyone who has been shortlisted this year should be really proud of their achievement so far as competition was so strong and standards so high.
“The team is really looking forward to visiting all our shortlisted clubs and seeing some of the great work that is going on in the fitness industry on a daily basis.”
Director of Operations and Asset Development for Sport Aberdeen, Keith Gerrard, said:
“We are truly delighted that the Beach Leisure Centre has been shortlisted for such a prestigious national title.
“Sport Aberdeen is committed to creating opportunities, inspiring people and changing lives through sport and physical activity. This approach shines through in the Beach Leisure Centre which is proudly an essential part of the community.
“The recent modernisation of the Beach Leisure Centre gym with state of the art equipment is one of many examples of our ongoing commitment to providing an excellent offer to our customers.
“None of this would have been achieved without the hard work of colleagues at Sport Aberdeen. We look forward to the next stage of this process.”
Skaters based at Sport Aberdeens Linx Ice Arena have been selected to for the Great Britain Development Squad.
Lauren Tough (11), Ella Sherwood (13) and Imogen Vickers (15) have all been selected into the NISA’s (National Ice Skating Association) Regional Development Squad for Great Britain.
The three skaters are members of Aberdeen Linx Ice Skating Club with this being Ella’s and Imogen’s first selection while Lauren is looking forward to her third successive selection.
As well as the endless hours of training in Aberdeen, the girls regularly travel around the UK to participate in various competitions and specilised training sessions, an indication of how much work is needed to skate at their level.
Sport Aberdeen would like to congratulate the club, coach Ann Cronin and all three girls on this remarkable achievement and look forward to hearing more about them as their careers progress.
The Active Aberdeen Partnership (AAP), comprising of ten organisations, is consulting on two major strategies which aim to make Aberdeen the most active city on Scotland.
- The draftStrategy for an Active Aberdeen sets out a strategic vision and action plan to engage more people in sport and physical activity. Driven by national and local policies, the strategy outlines the AAP’s vision for Aberdeen to be the most active city in Scotland by 2020.
- Plans include the launch of a major marketing campaign to encourage people across the city to pledge to “Activate the City”.
- The draft Aberdeen Sports Facilities Strategyaims to ensure a network of high quality, accessible sports facilities across Aberdeen.
- Proposals include the development of two “community hubs” in the north and south of the city, which integrates sport and physical opportunities with a wider range of services, and plans to address the deficiency in floodlit 3G artificial football pitches across the city.
The consultation will close on Sunday 2nd October 2016.
The views will inform the final strategies, which will be published by the end of this year.
Commenting, a spokesperson for the Active Aberdeen Partnership said:
“The Active Aberdeen Partnership is focused on making Aberdeen the most active city in Scotland by 2020.
“The two draft strategies set out concrete and positive action to give the people who live and work in Aberdeen the best opportunities to take part in sport and physical activity.
“We would urge people and organisations across the city to take part in these important consultations. By working together we can deliver bold plans which have lasting outcomes on the health and wellbeing of our community.”
City of Aberdeen Gymnastics Club (COAG) are celebrating Orianne Slaters most recent success.
Competing in the Disability Artistic Gymnastics British Championships 2016 at the Lilleshall National Sports Centre, Telford, Orianne would retain her title national title and be crowned 2016 British Disability Junior Overall Champion.
Following her impressive results at last’s years event, Orianne Slater again headed to the competition in fine form. Despite uncertainty regarding a number of newcomers attending the event, she displayed great prowess and confidence to come away Gold on Floor, Vault and Asymmetric Bars as well as Silver on Balance Beam.
Orianne’s mother Lydie was delighted with her performance with the pair already looking forward to the future.
“Orianne and her coach, Lorna Presly, are very happy with these results! Indeed, these have increased her chances of being selected for the British Disability Masters event, which will take place during the hugely popular ‘2017 Gymnastics British Championships’ in Liverpool, next March.
For now though, Orianne’s next event is the Scottish Disability Voluntaries Championships 2016 (Kelvin Hall, Glasgow) on Saturday 1st October, where she will be competing for the Scottish Junior title and for which she is training intensely.”
Sport Aberdeen would like to congratulate clubCAP members COAG, Lorna, Lydie and of course Orianne on their most recent success which will undoubtedly lead to more in the future.
This Sunday, (11th September) registered charity Sport Aberdeen will join forces with Clubbercise and STV Children’s Appeal to host a unique workout class in aid of charity.
Clubbercise instructor, Emma Sinclair, has organised a fundraiser to raise money for the one in five children in Scotland affected by poverty.
Using the hallmarks of the 90’s rave culture – glow sticks and disco lights – Aberdonians are being asked to take part in the fun work-out to dance classics from recent decades.
The class will be taking place at Sport Aberdeen’s Beach Leisure Centre and is due to run from 2-4pm.
To take part, participants are asked to make a donation of £5 per person. They can book a slot now via the below link:
www.bookwhen.com/exercisewithemma
Commenting, Clubbercise Instructor Emma Sinclair said:
“Come along and join us on Sunday the 11th of September at the Beach Leisure Centre. Get your glow on, dance to some great tunes and have fun while helping raise money for the STV Children’s Appeal. The money raised will be used to help children living in poverty right here in Scotland. I am honoured to be involved in this great event and hope to see you all there.”
A spokesperson for Sport Aberdeen added:
“Sport Aberdeen is delighted to support this event by providing the venue free of charge. The class is a unique opportunity to get fit and fundraise for a good cause. There are still spaces available so we would encourage people across Aberdeen to don their rave gear and sign up.”
Elizabeth Partyka from STV Children’s Appeal said:
“We are very grateful to Emma and Sport Aberdeen for supporting STV Children’s Appeal with donations from this weekend’s Clubbercise class. I hope people across the city come out in force to take part in the event as every donation, big or small, helps to make a difference in the lives of children and young people affected by poverty in Scotland.”
A popular programme of Walking Football looks set to continue following a successful 12-week pilot.
The sessions, as led by AFC Community Trust and hosted at Sport Aberdeens Beach Leisure Centre, have enjoyed an impressive attendance rate since its introduction and will now become a staple at the venue.
Walking Football is a fun, social and friendly approach to the beautiful game and is suitable for anyone who cannot manage the impact of a standard game, but still has the drive to stay fit and healthy via football. Walking Football is a growing sport around the country and is ideal for older participants and those aiming to get in better shape.
A Sport Aberdeen representative said:
“We are not at all surprised to witness the success of these sessions. Walking Football is a sport that continues to grow around the country and the Beach Leisure Centre sessions have enjoyed a high attendance rate since its introduction.
By supporting fantastic sessions like these, we continue our drive to create opportunities for everyone in the city to take part in sport & physical activity. AFC Community Trust lead an amazing programme of Walking Football and we are proud to work alongside them.“
The sessions will now take place from 7-8pm every Wednesday, with Aberdeen Football Club Defender, Anthony O’Connor, visiting a session at the Beach Leisure Centre.
Debra Christie, Fundraising and Business Development Co-ordinator for AFCCT and Walking Football participant said:
“Walking Football is such a fantastic initiative, meeting up with like-minded individuals with the same aims is very motivating. Everyone just has a great laugh and I would encourage anyone looking get fit to come along and give it a go!”
Active Ageing Development Officer, Paula Bisset, completed the Glasgow – Edinburgh Heart Trekkers Walk in aid of British Heart Foundation, alongside her good friend Lynn.
The pair managed to walk the full 100K challenge and finished the grueling walk 29 hours after setting off from Glasgow.
Originally aiming to raise £500 for the British Heart Foundation, the duo would raise (to date) £1400.
Speaking after the walk, Paula said:
“This was the hardest thing mentally and physically either of us have ever done. Around 200 started the walk at Kelvingrove Park and 67 had to pull out before the end, so we are delighted to have made it to the finish line.
The British Heart Foundation works so hard to ensure that families don’t lose loved ones to heart disease, as I have lost my dad, mum and brother and every penny raised for them will go to research and raising awareness .”
Congratulations to both Paula and Lynn on their fundraising efforts and amazing challenge.
Paula is still accepting donations to her wonderful cause via her JustGiving page.
Organisers of the annual Disability National Bowls Championship are asking for volunteers to assist with the event on match day.
Scottish Disability Sport and venue hosts, Sport Aberdeen, are set to hold the competition Saturday 3rd September and are calling on the public to help make the event another great success.
The competition is celebrating its 30th year in Aberdeen and will again be held at Westburn Outdoor Sports Centre. However, the event relies on local bowlers volunteering, primarily as markers, as well as local umpires.
Volunteers must be 16 or over with and should contact 01224 047926 for more information.