There was cause for celebration last weekend as one of our swim teachers, Shelley Milne, a Young Ambassador for Scottish Swimming, collected the Young Programme Champion award at their weekend event.
The Young Ambassador Programme was introduced to allow the younger members of Scottish Swimming to share their views and help shape the organisations future and a delighted Shelley told us, “It is such an honour to be awarded the Programme Champion Award for the work I’ve done during my time as a Young Ambassador. I’d like to thank all the aquatics coordinators at Sport Aberdeen for being so supportive in my journey as a Young Ambassador and for giving me the confidence to take part in the programme in the first place.”
Shelley was an integral part of the team who devised a Mental Health Toolkit for Scottish Swimming which has also led to continuing professional development in Mental Health Awareness being delivered throughout Scotland for Scottish Swimming.
Now 7 years in her role at Sport Aberdeen, Shelley has advanced her qualifications to currently work as a level 2 swim teacher and level 2 coach. She is lead teacher for aquatics and head coach of Bon Accord Thistle, a local amateur swimming club based at our Tullos venue.
“It is so rewarding to see progression in the swimmers I teach. Some of them are initially petrified of being in the water but before long they look like they were born to swim.” This is more evident in the work Shelley performs for our Additional Support Needs (ASN) pathway. “I love giving those of us who face greater challenges in day-to-day life the opportunity to feel free and able in the water. Everyone can enjoy the water, no matter their circumstance.”
Scottish Swimming Young Ambassador Programme
Award-winning charity Sport Aberdeen will be the first leisure provider in Scotland to offer innovative aquatic rehabilitation sessions through the Good Boost Aqua Move programme.
The charity received funding directly from Good Boost for nine months to deliver the programme, intended to help those with muscular-skeletal conditions* to participate in gentle water-based exercises in a fun and social environment.
Using tablet computers and artificial intelligence (AI), participants will complete a form and the AI will create a personalised aqua workout for each person through the Good Boost app to help with their mobility, balance and fitness.
Each participant will receive a tablet and can progress through exercises in the swimming pool at their own pace, helping to maximise their self-management of physical health conditions.
Designed by musculoskeletal specialists, the Good Boost app ensures the exercises are easy to follow and can be performed in a class environment whilst being individually tailored.
Good Boost Aqua Move will launch on April 24, with sessions taking place weekly at two of the charity’s swimming pools:
- Get active @ Northfield on Mondays from 1315 to 1400 and Tuesdays from 1445 to 1530.
- Tullos Swimming Pool on Wednesdays from 1215 to 1300 and Fridays from 1330 to 1415.
Existing Sport Aberdeen Fitness members can attend the sessions for free and new customers will pay £6 per session.
A one-hour induction must be completed before an individual can attend a session.
Graeme Dale, Head of Sport and Active Communities, said: “We are delighted to be the first in Scotland to deliver the Good Boost programme and help to support individuals as part of their rehabilitation.
“It has been a joint effort from our Healthy Communities and Coached Programmes teams to coordinate the programme offering across two swimming pools.
“It is great to be able to give individuals the opportunity to support their own wellbeing and recovery in a social, community-based environment using the Good Boost technology.”