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!”
Over the month of July, the Community Sport team piloted a series of skateboarding and BMX taster sessions in partnership with Aberdeen City Council’s Family Learning team. Using local, free-to-access facilities and engaging over 30 families, these short sessions introduced kids and their parents to the basics of these exciting Olympic sports. The team collaborated with renowned BMXer Ashley Armstrong to deliver the BMX segment of the sessions.
Held at Northfield Skatepark and Sunnybank Park, the sessions also included other sports and arts activities. These events aimed to gauge the popularity and demand within local communities for such offerings. Feedback collected so far indicates a high level of enthusiasm from young people who might not typically engage with traditional, mainstream sports.
Joe Coleman, Lead Community Sports Hub Coordinator at Sport Aberdeen, said: “There are great skateparks dotted all over the city but young people often don’t know how to use them or have the correct equipment. These sessions have been great in introducing families to the basic skills needed to access these spaces and to inspire young people in new ways of getting active on their doorstep. We’re stoked on how it went and hope to do more work in this area based on the success of the pilot”
You can read more about Ashley Armstrong’s inspirational story here.
Sport Aberdeen is working in Aberdeen to #KeepThePromise by using a child-centred approach to its work, ensuring young people are the voice of the support they receive.
Sport Aberdeen works with the aims of The Promise in mind when delivering its innovative SPACE (Supported Physical Activity for Care Experienced) programme that positively shapes the lives of care-experienced children through the transformative power of connection, sport and physical activity. With the delivery of this programme, Sport Aberdeen demonstrates its dedication to supporting care-experienced young people in the city by ensuring they have opportunities to thrive and succeed.
Katrina Carr, Lead Active Schools Coordinator at Sport Aberdeen, explains the essence of the programme: “Our SPACE programme is a one-to-one bespoke initiative to support care-experienced young people. We’re also looking at how we support their siblings, families, caregivers and their wider support networks to become more active. Essentially, we use sport and physical activity to create positive behaviour change.”
Kim McRobbie, Active Schools and EDI Manager, echoes this sentiment, highlighting the holistic approach of the programme: “From an organisational perspective, it’s important that this comes from a top-down approach. Our Chief Executive has made it clear that supporting care-experienced young people is a priority. This message is disseminated throughout the organisation, making it a topic of discussion and action across all areas of our work.”
Sport Aberdeen’s commitment to care-experienced children goes beyond the activities of the SPACE programme. It’s about creating an inclusive culture within the organisation.
Kim emphasises the importance of this top-down approach: “Through discussions with the leadership team, it’s clear that supporting care-experienced young people is a priority for Sport Aberdeen as a whole – it’s not just limited to the Active Schools arm of the organisation.”
Kim further elaborates on the importance of supporting the entire family unit: “Supported memberships and the whole family approach is crucial. If we can create a more positive environment, we’re setting up not just the young people for success, but also their families. This holistic approach is essential for breaking the generational impact of the care system.”
Katrina adds: “We’re not always trying to add to a young person’s life but use the positive relationships they already have to create a support network. It’s about listening to what the young people need and piecing the jigsaw together to support them effectively.”
Both Kim and Katrina passionately advocate for the role of sport and physical activity in the development and well-being of care-experienced children.
Kim explains: “Sport and physical activity offers a host of transferable skills.
“Beyond physical and mental well-being, they teach turn-taking, social skills and a sense of belonging. These are crucial for building positive relationships with peers and adults.”
Katrina agrees, emphasising the broader impact of sport: “Participating in sport can open pathways to employment and higher education. Through our SPACE programme, we provide opportunities away from the traditional classroom setup, giving young people tangible skills and experiences.”
The SPACE programme supports children from primary age through to secondary school leavers. Katrina shares a touching story: “We’ve had young people who couldn’t ride a bike or swim, skills you’d think are just part of childhood. By providing bikes, helmets and swimming lessons, we’ve given them opportunities they might not have had otherwise. This sense of belonging is crucial.”
Kim adds: “It’s about taking those two words ‘corporate parent’ and losing the ‘corporate’ part. It’s about being the parent for the children, ensuring they have the happy, healthy experiences every child deserves.”
The impact of the SPACE programme is profound. Katrina recounts numerous success stories: “We’ve seen young people who initially couldn’t engage in conversation develop the confidence to lead activities and even find employment. The progress they make week to week is incredible.”
Kim highlights the importance of celebrating these achievements: “We use SPACE journals to document their journey. These journals are filled with jokes and fun things that have happened, challenges overcome, and successes. One parent was overwhelmed by the positive reinforcement their child received, seeing the sense of achievement and pride in their eyes.”
The Promise has also facilitated greater collaboration among organisations. Kim notes: “The Promise has brought organisations together, helping us identify gaps and improve our services. By working together, we can provide a more comprehensive support system for care-experienced young people.”
Looking ahead, Kim hopes to extend these opportunities beyond Aberdeen: “We’re fortunate that Sport Aberdeen values opportunities for care-experienced young people. We aim to ensure that regardless of postcode, all care-experienced children get equal opportunities to benefit from our programmes.”
To ask any questions or find out more about the SPACE project, please email space@sportaberdeen.co.uk
On Monday, July 8th, 15 dedicated staff members began the challenge at 5 AM, going on to complete 72 holes and cover 20 miles!
The group started the challenge at 5 AM at Balnagask, then proceeded to play Kings Links. They were scheduled to play Hazlehead, but due to the weather, both Hazlehead courses had to close. This meant that Kings Links had to be played three times to make up the 72-hole challenge!
The last teams finished their 72nd hole at 10:30 PM!
This was all in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support, and the golfers raised an amazing £400. A big thank you to everyone who donated and shared the link; it’s very much appreciated!
The link will remain live, so it’s not too late to contribute: JustGiving
Sport Aberdeen wants to congratulate all who took part and give a big well done to everyone who participated.
The golfers said, “It truly lived up to its name; it was a challenge alright.”
A bold new framework that aims to revolutionise water safety has been launched in schools.
1,490 children from Aberdeen have already taken part in the new National Primary School Swimming Framework – a partnership between Scottish Water and Scottish Swimming.
The partnership’s vision is to ensure that primary school children (ideally at Primary 4/Primary 5 level) across Scotland will learn basic water safety and drowning prevention skills to help them be safer and more confident in, on and around water.
Developed by Scottish Swimming and supported by Scottish Water, the Framework will introduce standardised outcomes alongside innovative, flexible delivery models tailored to local needs, in order to enhance the current School Swimming provision.
Dianne Breen, Programming and Membership Services Manager at Sport Aberdeen, said: “Water safety skills are vital for people of all ages to be safe and happy in and around the water.
“This new framework is a brilliant way to instil these skills from early ages through the school swimming lessons.
“We’ve seen such a boost in confidence from the pupils that have taken part, and we’re excited to see this be rolled out to reach even more children.”
Sport Aberdeen facilitated the pilot across six of its swimming pools, and will continue to adopt the framework, reaching approx. 2,100 pupils per year.
Launched during a Drowning Prevention Week event at Loch Lomond, the framework hopes to ensure all children have the chance to learn vital water safety skills, which may be their only opportunity for such education.
Over 8,300 pupils have already taken part in two phases of pilots which were carried out across nine local authorities in Scotland – the Framework has now been made accessible for all local authorities and pools.
Statistics show that Scotland’s record on drownings is worryingly high. 47 accidental drownings were reported by the National Water Safety Forum in 2023, equating to almost 10 fatal drownings per one million people and almost triple the rate of the rest of the UK.
Euan Lowe, CEO at Scottish Swimming, added: “Our vision is that ‘everyone can swim’, and we believe that teaching primary school age children water safety skills is vital to this.
“The framework’s flexible approach allows schools to adopt models best suited to their circumstances while delivering consistent skills and messaging in relation to water safety. Whether through a universal approach or targeted programmes for non-swimmers, we maintain core water safety principles.
“This collaborative effort with Scottish Water and the Scottish Government, sportscotland, and educational bodies underscores our commitment to making swimming accessible and safe for all children.”
Peter Farrer, Scottish Water’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “Learning how to be safer in, on and around water is such an important life skill – everyone should be able to enjoy Scotland’s miles of rivers, lochs, reservoirs and shorelines, and do so safely.
“Scotland’s drowning rates highlight the urgent need for comprehensive water safety education.
“We are proud to support the National Primary School Swimming Framework, which aims to help ensure children across Scotland leave primary school with the essential knowledge and skills to stay safe around water.”
A recent survey of primary school headteachers in Scotland revealed that nine in 10 that currently deliver school swimming value it as a crucial part of their pupil’s education. With nearly three quarters (72%) of schools unaware of the Water Safety Scotland Progression Pathway classroom resources for school teachers, this new framework is set out to ensure all children receive essential water safety skills.
The framework is designed to adapt to various local authority environments, ensuring inclusivity and targeting children who may not have previous swimming experience. Integrating the Water Safety Code throughout aligns with Water Safety Scotland’s drowning prevention initiatives.
Supported by the Scottish Government and sportscotland, and with the involvement of Education Scotland and Water Safety Scotland, pilot programmes explored different delivery models, leading to the comprehensive framework now available for schools across the nation.
Pilot programmes were carried out in the following local authorities:
- Dundee: 30 pupils
- East Lothian: 1,238 pupils
- North Lanarkshire: 134 pupils
- Scottish Borders: 86 pupils
- West Dunbartonshire: 900 pupils
- Aberdeen: 1,490 pupils
- Edinburgh: 4,400 pupils
- Clackmannanshire: 540 pupils
- East Renfrewshire: 230 pupils
The framework is linked to Scottish Swimming’s comprehensive education qualifications and CPD courses to aid the development and quality of delivery.
Drowning Prevention Week (15-22 June 2024), organised by the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS), stands as one of the largest water safety campaigns in the UK and Ireland, specifically targeting the summer season. Its primary goal is to equip individuals with the necessary skills and knowledge to make informed decisions regarding water safety, particularly during the summer months.
For more information on The National Primary School Swimming Framework, click here.
In partnership with Interfaith Aberdeen – the regional interfaith organisation for North East Scotland – Sport Aberdeen’s community sport team hosted a series of sports sessions as part of Refugee Week.
Refugee Week is the world’s largest arts and culture festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees.
Sport Aberdeen’s sessions took place at its venues Get active @ Kincorth from 14:00 to 17:00 on June 17 and Get active @ Sheddocksley from 19:00 to 22:00 on June 18.
The events were fun and social, attracting over 30 people from a wide variety of nationalities who all came together to play and compete in squash, badminton, pickleball and table tennis.
Sport Aberdeen is involved in sportscotland’s Kit for All project – collecting and providing preloved and recycled sports kit and equipment, aiming to reduce barriers to participation in sport and physical activity. Individuals attending both events were given sports kit through this scheme.
As a result of Sport Aberdeen’s community sport team having a positive reputation of working with the New Scots community in general, the team was approached by Nuart artist Addam Yekutieli who was keen to connect with New Scots and express their voices through his work.
The community sport team facilitated the connection and as a result, local New Scots were featured in Addam’s work which can now be viewed in central Aberdeen.
This is a great example of how connections between the arts and sport can lead to unique and powerful outcomes.
Mark Pain, Community Sport Manager at Sport Aberdeen, said: “It was great to work in partnership with Interfaith Aberdeen to deliver these events and harness the power of sport and physical activity to create a positive impact on those who have faced significant challenges in their lives.
“We also work with New Scots through our Football for All project, providing a weekly opportunity to play 5-a-side football, which has been hugely successful.
“We will continue to look for ways to create innovative projects and ensure everyone in our communities can access sport and physical activity opportunities.”
In May and June, the Active Schools team organised 4 weeks of primary school races across seven city venues. The Fun Run Series is open to P1 to P7 pupils from any Aberdeen school where pupils get the chance to race against their friends and against the clock, as well as against pupils from other schools. These Fun Run events are focused on participation, but the races were timed so that pupils can try and improve on their times each week.
This year, the venues were Bucksburn Academy, Cults Academy, Harlaw Road pitches, Loirston Primary, Oldmachar Academy, Sheddocksley pitches and St Machar Academy.
Each venue held four weeks of races; P1, P2 and P3 pupils ran in 400m races; P4 pupils ran 800m races and P5-P7 pupils had the choice of running 800m or 1600m. Pupils were given a participation medal at the end of term if they took part in 3 or 4 race events and we are delighted to acknowledge that 660 pupils from 40 different schools received a medal this year! The total number of pupils who took part were over 700 as there were children who came along to events but could only take part in 1 or 2 weeks of races.
The final Fun Run event took place in June, which is called the Champion of Champions – this is an invitational event for the top P4-7 boys and girls from each venue to come together to race against each other. This year’s event saw over 100 pupils from 31 schools taking part at Sheddocksley pitches. Medal winners from our Champion of Champions event represented Airyhall, Braehead, Brimmond, Broomhill, Charleston, Cults, Glashieburn, Greenbrae, Hazlehead, Kingswells, Loirston, Mile End, Milltimber, St Joseph’s, Stoneywood and Westpark primaries.
Sport Aberdeen’s Ruthrieston and Northfield outdoor tennis courts have officially reopened as part of a £210,000 renovation taking place across the Aberdeen City Council area, delivered by the LTA and supported by the LTA Tennis Foundation and the council.
The official opening events took place on Saturday 22 June – Ruthrieston from 10:00 to 12:00 and Northfield from 14:00 to 16:00 and welcomed more than 500 attendees, with the courts officially opened by Sport Aberdeen’s chairman, Tony Dawson. Sport Aberdeen manages both centres on behalf of Aberdeen City Council.
Attendees were given the opportunity to pick up a racket and get on court for a range of tennis activities, games and adult coaching taster sessions, as well as enjoying the bouncy castle, ice cream van and face painting available for children.
Through the Parks Tennis Project, the LTA is delivering the biggest ever investment in parks tennis facilities across Britain, which has been used to transform eight courts in the Aberdeen local area, providing a significant boost to sporting facilities.
There are three outdoor non-floodlit courts at Northfield Sports Centre and five outdoor non-floodlit courts at Ruthrieston Sports Centre.
The courts have undergone extensive work to ensure viability for years to come, including court resurfacing and repainting, as well as replacement fencing, nets and security gates.
This nationwide programme of investment is seeing thousands of existing park tennis courts being brought back to life for the benefit of communities across the country, providing vital opportunities for children and adults to get active.
As well as weekly Barclays Free Park Tennis sessions with equipment provided, the refurbished courts will host Local Tennis Leagues, giving people the opportunity to get involved in friendly and social local competitions.
All courts will be available to book using ClubSpark here – a small booking fee will ensure that the courts are maintained at their new high standard for years to come.
The LTA and Sport Aberdeen will work together to ensure Barclays Free Park Tennis sessions are available on the courts, providing regular opportunities for anyone to pick up a racket and play.
Graeme Dale, Director of Sport and Active Communities at Sport Aberdeen, said: “It is fantastic to see new life breathed into our outdoor tennis courts at Northfield and Ruthrieston.
“We enjoyed welcoming the local community along to both opening events on Saturday – there was a real buzz and community spirit which was great to see.
“The modern and refurbished courts are easily accessible with a low booking cost, so we hope that people of all ages and abilities will go outside, enjoy the fresh air and have fun playing tennis.
“Our courts are available for booking now, head to ClubSpark here.”
Julie Porter, Chief Operating Officer at the LTA, said:
“After months of hard work, we’re delighted to see park tennis courts across Aberdeen officially back open to the public, and in better shape than ever.
“Public tennis courts are such vital facilities for getting active and we want as many people as possible, of all ages and abilities, to pick up a racket and enjoy playing tennis. Thanks to this investment the sport will be opened up to more players, for years to come.”
Sport Aberdeen is excited to announce the launch of its new Summer Fitness Pass, entitling customers to 12 sessions for only £60!
A session can be redeemed across its fitness and swimming pool venues – each session can be used for a gym visit, a swim or a fitness class.
The pass can be purchased now and sessions must be used by Saturday 31st August.
The offer is a one-time payment of £60 with no contract and no joining fee – the perfect way to get active over the summer period without the long-term commitment.
If you have any questions then please email memberships@sportaberdeen.co.uk
We are recently excited to learn that Get active @ Northfield achieved the Tacking Inequalities in Leisure Standard with the highest rating of gold.
The “Tackling Inequalities in Leisure Standard” replaced the Inclusive Fitness Initiative in September 2022 and has been co-written between Activity Alliance and Quest.
The aim is to help leisure operators provide more inclusive and accessible physical activity opportunities for people from a range of inequality groups.
Many of the programmes run at Get active @ Northfield were highlighted in the report such as our Good Boost programme. Good Boost sessions support participants with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions such as arthritis, back pain, neurological conditions and people before and after hip and knee replacement surgery to participate in individually-tailored, water-based therapeutic exercises in friendly and supportive group classes.
Active Lifestyles was also at the forefront as to why the venue was given the prestigious award for how it provides classes for all ages and abilities. In addition to this its referral programme specifically for people with long-term conditions was also mentioned.
David Selkirk, Director of Community Leisure Operations said: “We are delighted that Get active @ Northfield has received the Tackling Inequalities in Leisure Standard with the highest rating. It highlights and rewards all the hard work staff put into the venues to make them as successful as they are.
“It also further signifies our dedication to breaking down barriers to sport and fitness as shown through the report highlighting the great classes and opportunities we have for all.”