Award-winning charity Sport Aberdeen is calling on members of the public to act now and help protect the future of its invaluable venues and services in the local community.

Every year, Aberdeen City Council (ACC) sets its budget for running public services. This budget includes the commissioning fee for Sport Aberdeen, which enables the charity to run its venues, programmes and services at a lower cost to customers.

Sport Aberdeen delivers a number of life-changing initiatives including its SPACE programme – improving the lives of care experienced children and young people through the power of sport and physical activity.

Another initiative – its Active Lifestyles programme – works with older adults and individuals with long term health conditions, helping them to get active in an inclusive environment.

To break down the barrier of price and provide more people with the opportunity to take part in sport and physical activity, Sport Aberdeen offers a discounted access scheme – Get active for Less.

This year, ACC is asking the people of Aberdeen to influence what the spending priorities should be for the next financial year.

Sport Aberdeen is urging the public to complete the ACC budget consultation survey and allocate 25 points to the ‘Arts, Culture and Sport’ category to help protect their local community facilities.

Alistair Robertson, Managing Director of Sport Aberdeen, said: “I am pleased that Aberdeen City Council and the Press & Journal has provided an opportunity for the public to rate the services that the council and its partners provide. My hope is that people will allocate part of their 100 points towards Sport Aberdeen; and 25 would be fantastic!

“We know our facilities and services have a real positive impact on tens of thousands of people every week, improving their health and wellbeing and influencing positively in so many ways.”

Alistair continued: “Sport Aberdeen does far more than perhaps is appreciated and we want to be around for many years to come, continuing our mission to create opportunities, inspire people and change lives through all that we do.

“Of course, I am biased, but the provision of quality sport and leisure services should be a fundamental part of any local authority’s offer, however pressures on public sector finance are making that increasingly difficult to sustain.  

“Leisure is a non-statutory function, so we always have to shout louder and fight for a share of what is an ever-decreasing level of funding, and this is one of those times. I appeal to everyone who shares that view to vote; give us 25 points to help us survive!”

Diane McKay, local Sport Aberdeen member, said: “I was diagnosed with diabetes last year so coming to Get active @ Northfield to swim gives me the exercise I need, and it makes me feel relaxed. I usually try to go swimming twice a week.

“The facilities at Get active @ Northfield are lovely and clean, and the staff are always helpful. Everyone is catered for here – there are lots of options to suit everyone and I find it is great value for money, particularly if you take a membership which is what I have. 

“It’s so important that our local sport and leisure facilities are protected.”

Members of the public have until Monday 31 July to complete the Aberdeen City Council Phase 1 budget consultation survey.

Spare less than five minutes and help to protect the future of Sport Aberdeen today by completing the survey online here, giving 25 points to the Arts, Culture and Sport category.

All 100 points must be allocated against a range of services before submissions will be accepted.

Award-winning charity Sport Aberdeen is proud to commit to the Young Person’s Guarantee, joining employers across Scotland in creating the best prospects it can for young people.

The Young Person’s Guarantee is a shared commitment to provide opportunities for all 16-24-year olds in Scotland through jobs, apprenticeships, further and higher education, training programmes and volunteering.  

With the support of its local Developing the Youth Workforce (DYW) North East partner, Sport Aberdeen will focus on a number of initiatives for the rest of the year.

These include mentoring young people through the Career Ready programme, Modern Apprenticeship and work experience opportunities across different departments, and empowering young females through the Active Girls Committee to increase their participation in sport and physical activity and develop valuable leadership and team building skills.

Through this partnership, Sport Aberdeen will also engage with local schools to create work experience opportunities and encourage more young people to consider a career in the sport and leisure industry.

Nickie Scorgie, Head of HR and Organisational Development, said: “We are delighted to announce our commitment to the Young Person’s Guarantee.

“As a charity, we believe in supporting young people to reach their full potential and hope to inspire them to pursue a career in the sport and leisure sector.  

“We are always open and willing to provide work experience – recently we had two S5 pupils complete one week in our marketing and commercial development team, and at present we have two S5 pupils working in our community sport team for a four-week period.

“Our casual leisure attendant workforce comprises of many young people and we also provide volunteering roles through our Active Schools extracurricular programme.”  

Thalia Lyness, Employer School Coordinator at DYW North East, said: “We are pleased to be working more closely with Sport Aberdeen.  

“Sport and physical activity will always have a strong place in my heart, and I am a firm believer that sport lays the foundation for an inherent understanding and development of essential meta skills in children and young adults.

“I think the Active Girls Committee is a brilliant piece of work, tackling a huge problem many schools face with reference to the self-esteem of young women.

“It was great to hear about all the fantastic work Sport Aberdeen does and I look forward to hearing about its new and ongoing activity.”

Award-winning charity Sport Aberdeen has launched exciting new membership products to help the city get more active.   

There is strong evidence to justify the benefits of being physically active at any age, contributing towards healthier and happier lifestyles.    

Research carried out by Ofcom in 2022 stated that 66% of 3-17 year olds have their own mobile phone, 76% have their own social media profile and 96% use video sharing platforms.     

Sport Aberdeen hopes to inspire children and young people to put their devices down and spend more quality time enjoying sport and physical activity this summer and beyond.

Its new Get active Junior membership offers several activities across the city for only £22.50 per month.

Activities included are swimming, ice skating, tubing, specialised fitness classes, indoor and outdoor tennis, padel tennis, footgolf, open ski and snowboarding sessions and access to five golf courses.

A summer junior fitness class timetable has also been created for Get active Junior members and Teen Fitness members to attend for free, running for the next six weeks.

The classes will provide a great way to have fun, improve fitness and learn new techniques in a gym environment, and include the following:

• GetMoving focuses on improving mobility and maintaining flexibility in a variety of low impact ways.
• GetFit is a high intensity circuits-style class building strength and stamina.
• GetStrong offers an introduction to safe lifting techniques using free weights.

Classes will run at Get active @ Northfield for week one, Get active @ Sheddocksley for week two, Get active @ Jesmond for week three, Get active @ Kincorth for week four and Get active @ Alex Collie for week five.

A new membership has been launched for adults – Get active – which includes swimming, over 100 fitness classes every week, access to all gyms, ice skating, golf at five courses, tennis, badminton, padel tennis and open ski and snowboarding sessions.

The price of the Get active membership is £46 per month – the only membership in Aberdeen to offer so many activities for one low monthly cost. Further details on each membership product can be found here.

Eleven year old snowboarding enthusiast from Aberdeen, Saul Brown is flying down the slopes after winning at the Kendal K-Jam under 12’s freestyle snowboarding competition in England on May 13.  

In advance of the competition, Saul felt confident and excited after his private coaching session in the Manchester Snowdome the day before with John Weatherly from The BoobyTrap.   

At the freestyle event, he spent the morning on jumps and the afternoon on rails doing more than enough to be crowned the winner for the second year in a row.

Dedicating around 10 hours per week to snowboarding, Saul usually hits the slopes at Adventure Aberdeen Snowsports Centre every evening after school and at the weekends.     

His first taster of snowboarding was aged 3 years old at Glenshee Ski Centre, then he started coming to Adventure Aberdeen Snowsports Centre when he was 6 and has been coming ever since. 

Saul receives two hours of coaching on a Wednesday evening at the centre with coaches Fraser or Logan.

His remaining time is spent practicing independently at open sessions where he is always encouraged and coached by Euan Rogers when on the hill. On Friday evenings, he attends the Aberdeen Snowsports Club session where he is coached again by Logan.

To complement his snowboarding, Saul visits Transition Extreme once a week to skateboard, as well as skateboarding at outdoor spaces and using the garden ramp built by his father Marc during lockdown.

Describing his love for snowboarding, Saul said: “I like being able to go high off jumps, it makes me feel like I’m flying!

“It is lots of fun, you come along and get accepted and then learn some new tricks.

“Everyone is hyped up and builds each other up.

“Most of my school friends play football so it’s cool that I have a different hobby and I’ve made loads of friends through snowboarding.”

Only competing for the first time at 10 years old, Saul has won every competition he has entered in his age category and came in second in the under 16’s Brits rail JAM at the Cairngorm this past winter. 

His favourite trick is a method and he loves doing rail sessions with the older guys at the hill. He can perform all four rotations up to 540 and recently learned back side 720’s.   

A passion for snowboarding runs in the family, as Saul’s father Marc has been snowboarding for almost 35 years – having a huge influence on his son’s hunger for the sport.

Saul’s younger siblings Roman (9 years old) and Anayah (7 years old) also snowboard at Adventure Aberdeen Snowsports Centre.      

Marc said: “The coaches Fraser and Logan put so much into Saul.

“He is like a little brother to them, they’re all buddies.”

“When youngsters like Saul are performing well at snowsports, they get instant access to grown-ups.” 

“It’s a community here at the snowsports centre, everyone knows everyone.”

“Kat Benton is amazing too, she was the one who built the foundations for Saul, which was instrumental when he first started.

“She is always there for him and is kind, gracious and supportive – it really is a fantastic community down at the centre.”

Saul is fortunate enough to also receive coaching from Fin Bremner (one of the best Scottish snowboarders) periodically when he is in Aberdeen.

Always looking to the next big thing, Saul is now preparing for the Scottish triple crown dry slope freestyle events soon, starting in Aberdeen on June 25 and then further afield in Edinburgh (July 8) and Glasgow (July 23).

He then hopes to compete at European level in winter 2023. His all-time goal is to compete at the       X-Games – described by his father as ‘the pinnacle of the sport’ and also one day get on the BOMBHOLE podcast.

Saul said: “My snowboarding idol is Mark McMorris, and it would be awesome to be sponsored and become a top pro in the world.”

If Saul’s story has inspired you to hit the slopes, then find out more about Sport Aberdeen’s snowboarding lessons here.

On Saturday 10 June, over 150 fundraisers gathered at the King’s Church to face their fears and raise money for good causes.

Fundraisers took on the 131ft high abseil off the side of the Northern Lights Tower and raised over £30,000 for various charities.

Organised by Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus (SBH) Scotland and operationally run on the day by Sport Aberdeen – this is the first time the event has taken place since Covid-19.

£22,500 alone was raised for SBH Scotland – a charity supporting families living with life-long complex disabilities in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

Mike Gifford, Adventure Aberdeen Manager, said: “It was great to work alongside Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland (SBH Scotland) and Kings Church to bring this event to life.

“There was such a buzz on the day watching everyone face their fears and abseil off the 131ft high Northern Lights Tower.

“Well done to everyone taking part and raising over £30,000 for good causes.”

Lynsey Hamilton, Fundraising Manager for Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus (SBH) Scotland, said: “We are thrilled to have brought the Aberdeen Abseil back, it’s been a long time coming! A big thanks must go to Kings Church and the skilled team at Sport Aberdeen for helping us make it a reality!

“SBH Scotland provide a lifetime commitment of support and information to over 4,000 people across Scotland and more specifically the money our fundraisers have donated in this event will help us support around 300 people in Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire. A massive thank you to everyone who took part for us and to all those who donated.

“We’re also delighted to have welcomed many other charities who benefitted from the day including CHSS, Grampian MS, Scottish Cot Death and Brain Tumour Research who all had their own brave fundraisers taking to the skies.

We can’t wait to get a date again for next year now!”

If you fancy taking on the daring descent, then book your spot on the next abseil – Archie Abseil – taking place on Saturday 29 July.

The event is organised by The Archie Foundation and Sport Aberdeen, and costs £25 to take part. Register online here or email hello@archie.org for further information.    

Above: Photos of participants abseiling

Sport Aberdeen’s Linx Ice Arena recently hosted the Aberdeen Linx Ice Skating Club Dance open competition on 29 and 30 May.  

Ice skaters travelled from across the country to take part, with Alana Pang coming up from Sheffield to compete in the junior ladies category.

Alana said: “I love competing in Aberdeen every year because it is the qualifier for the British Championships and the community here in Aberdeen is lovely. I also enjoy seeing all the Aberdeen skaters.”   

The marketing team from Sport Aberdeen got the chance to speak with three of the Aberdeen skaters on Monday morning.          

28-year-old Alisa Benzie – who only started ice skating lessons when she was 23 – came 1^st in the young adult pre-bronze pattern dance category earning 10.74 points, and this was her first solo dance competition.

Commenting on her love of ice skating, Alisa said: “I always wanted to ice skate as a kid, but I didn’t live near a rink so my Mum would always take me to Elgin and I’d go to a public skate session whilst she would do her shopping.

“Once I moved to Aberdeen and found adult lessons, I started going and within a week, I had my own ice skates and I’ve been coming ever since!”

Above: Alisa Benzie after achieving 1st place

Another skater Catherine Wright competed in the senior ladies category on Tuesday and remarked: “I absolutely love both skating and competing here in Aberdeen because the environment is so friendly and welcoming.

“I’ve been skating for 14 years now (since I was 10) and the thing that really drives me is that I feel so free on the ice.”

Catherine recently scooped gold at the adult nationals at Sheffield Ice Arena, competing in the highest competitive category for free dance and patterns sections – all whilst studying medicine at the University of Aberdeen.

The next competition she will compete in is the British Championships for solo ice dance later in the year.

Above: Catherine Wright during her performance

The final ice skater interviewed was Danielle Watson, who competed in the intermediate novice category and has been skating since she was 4 years old.

She said: “I’ve been raised with ice skating and it’s my whole life, I just love it so much.”

Above: Danielle Watson before competing

Congratulations to everyone who took part in the competition, and a huge well done to Ann Cronin, one of the coaches who is immensely dedicated to her students – travelling up and down the country for their competitions.

If you feel inspired and would like to find out more about how you could get your skates on and take to the ice, then visit the ice skating activity webpage here.

Above: Aberdeen ice skaters on Monday morning before competing

The Albury Community Sports Hub Open Day is typically an annual fixture in the events calendar – however due to Covid-19, the last event took place in 2019.

The community sport team at Sport Aberdeen worked closely with the hub to plan and deliver its 2023 event, which took place on Saturday 27 May and was a great success!

Over 200 attendees gathered to enjoy the sun, meet new people, connect with others in the local community and take a look at the activities the hub has to offer.

On the day, free activity taster sessions for attendees included tennis, pickleball, lawn bowls, putting, petanque and croquet – these are available all year round.

Albury Community Sports Hub is run by a dedicated team of volunteers who handle the day-to-day management of the facility and delivery of activities, support by Sport Aberdeen’s community sport team.

The hub is nestled in a lovely green space in Ferryhill and is a real leafy gem in the city centre.    

It was great to see the open day so busy and a successful example of the power of community sport in action.  

Sport Aberdeen hopes to build on this and encourage more collaboration between sports clubs and community organisations, to grow participation in sport and physical activity across Aberdeen.

You can find out more about what the community sport team does on our website here.

Award-winning charity Sport Aberdeen has officially opened the first premier padel tennis centre in Aberdeen. 

The centre was opened by Chairman, Tony Dawson and President of the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), Sandi Procter on Tuesday 30 May. Both Tony and Sandi are former Cults Lawn Tennis Club players.      

At the ceremony, over 30 guests gathered to browse the courts and watch Sandi provide a demonstration with other coaches – guests were also encouraged to pick up a bat and have a go at playing for themselves.

The two new padel courts are adjacent to the charity’s popular Aberdeen Tennis Centre venue in Westburn Park, operating within the North East Tennis District.

Above: Players walking onto the new padel courts

According to the Lawn Tennis Association, these are courts 17 and 18 to be constructed in Scotland. The facility is covered by a canopy, so the sport can be enjoyed all year round.

Sport Aberdeen is grateful to the Lawn Tennis Association for providing the charity with a six-figure interest free loan to bring the project to life.

The charity will provide all equipment including padel bats and balls for customers and members who wish to play.

L-R: Sandi Procter and Tony Dawson giving their speeches at the opening event

About Sandi Procter

Sandi is a well-known face in the tennis world and has a clear passion for youth tennis. Sandi and her late husband Steve lived in Aberdeen for several years and both played for Cults Lawn Tennis Club in the first team.

She is a former PE teacher turned tennis coach and Tennis Centre Manager – she created the original Mini Tennis Red, Orange and Green programme and the Tennis Leaders Programme for the LTA, providing resources, training materials and delivery to British coaches.

With a long history of volunteering within tennis, she joined the LTA Board on 6 January 2017 as a Council-elected Non-Executive Director and then became LTA Deputy President in January 2020. 

Before she became Deputy President, she represented Kent on the LTA Council. She was on the Kent LTA Board until 2022 and was involved in a wide range of Kent activities for over 25 years.

This year, she was appointed as the LTA President for 2023 – 2025. She is also a Trustee of the LTA Tennis Foundation, a member of the Tennis Europe Development Committee and the ITF Olympic Committee.

L-R: Blane Dodds, Tony Dawson, Sandi Procter and Lord Provost.

Sandi Procter, President of the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), said: “Padel is such a fun and engaging sport and it’s wonderful that these courts will provide the Aberdeen community with the chance to play the sport.

“The LTA and LTA Tennis Foundation were pleased to help fund and facilitate this project to add padel courts to the already successful Community Indoor Tennis Centre.”

Blane Dodds, CEO of Tennis Scotland, said: “As the independent governing body for padel in Scotland, Tennis Scotland are delighted that new courts have opened at Aberdeen Tennis Centre.

“Padel offers a unique and exciting future and is becoming increasingly popular in Scotland, as we continue to work with venues and operators to maximise opportunities for growth.

“Padel will help our tennis clubs and venues across Scotland further engage with their members, attract new members and offer increased options for our local communities.”

Above: Tennis Scotland CEO, Blane Dodds

How to play padel

Padel is a sport for anyone and everyone to enjoy, and no prior tennis experience is necessary.

Predominantly played in doubles, it is renowned for being easier than tennis due to serving underarm and less technical ability is required.

It is played in a glass-enclosed court with smaller bats, and the ball can be returned off the back and side walls. 

To come along and try out padel for free, click here to book a coaching session.

To find out more, visit Sport Aberdeen’s padel activity page.

The annual Christmas Ice Show in Gosport, Hampshire is a magical experience for many children, bringing families together as they watch the skaters glide effortlessly over the ice.

As a young girl, Catherine Wright loved attending the show – every year she would plead with her parents to let her on the ice and every year her desire grew. On her 10^th birthday, her wish was granted, and she received the perfect gift of ten group skating lessons. Her heart raced at the thought of feeling the ice under her feet for the first time!

Her mother, who originally expected Catherine to become a swimmer, assumed that ice skating was a phase and her daughter would quickly return to swimming lessons. It was not until Catherine threatened to quit swimming altogether that the lessons were purchased, and her ice skating journey was put into motion.

The first lessons flew by and Catherine was hooked. She joined the synchronised skating team and skating club as soon as possible, eager to learn and emulate the dancers from the annual ice show.

Driven by her passion for the sport and her love of the ice, Catherine progressed through the levels, commenting: “I find ice skating absolutely freeing. I also love how strong it makes me feel when I power around the rink!” When asked about her favourite move, she said: “Definitely my choreographic splits slide where I turn a backwards drag into the splits then spin on my knees and bounce back up again to continue my programme.”

At age 19, the next chapter of Catherine’s life started: The study of medicine at the University of Aberdeen – a decision powered largely by Sport Aberdeen’s Linx Ice Arena and the quality of coaching available.  

The weight of a new degree programme – even one as demanding as medicine – did not sway Catherine’s motivation to skate. In fact, being tutored by head coach, Ann Cronin, only accelerated Catherine’s progress.

Training most weekday mornings before university and often starting as early as 5:45am, Catherine has progressed immensely, reaching British Ice Skating level 10 in free dance, compulsory dance and field moves, allowing her to compete in both the gold adult and senior categories.

Catherine attributes a lot of her success to Ann’s coaching and dedication to her students. Travelling up and down the country for competitions is not uncommon for Ann, who will even cross borders and seas to ensure her students have the best competition possible. Catherine feels that Ann is family rather than solely a coach, and it is likely other students feel the same.

On 28April 2023, 24-year-old Catherine competed in the adult nationals at Sheffield Ice Arena in the highest competitive category for both free dance and pattern sections and won gold!

But it does not end there, Catherine now sets her sights on the senior category, with two senior events planned for this year.

She will compete in the Aberdeen Solo Ice Dance Competition and the British Championships for solo ice dance later in the year.

Catherine’s rise to success on the ice is made all the more impressive as many of her opponents are  full-time ice dancers. Her ability to balance ice dancing alongside her university studies is nothing short of inspirational. For those who are looking to brave the ice, Catherine has some advice which will be sure to help you stay upright:

“Take a deep breath and try and forget any fear. If you’re scared, you will stiffen up and that’s when you will hurt yourself. Just take a deep breath and go for it, you’ll be flying round in no time!”.

Sport Aberdeen is pleased to offer a range of ice skating lessons available for all ages. To follow in Catherine’s footsteps and skate at the same rink as her, visit our website and view our full range of opportunities.

You can also read more about Catherine’s recent competition win on the Press & Journal’s website here.

Introduction

In recent years, there’s been a growing trend among travellers seeking holidays that blend physical activity with leisure and cultural experiences. This guide explores how to enjoy active holidays, from the rugged landscapes of Scotland to the diverse terrains of France, ensuring a balance of fitness and fun for all ages.​

Embracing Active Lifestyles in Scotland

Outdoor Adventures in the Highlands and Lowlands

Scotland’s diverse landscapes offer a plethora of outdoor activities. From hiking in the Cairngorms to mountain biking in the Scottish Borders, there’s something for every adventure enthusiast. Water sports like kayaking and canoeing are popular in areas such as Loch Goil, providing both excitement and scenic beauty.​

Community Sports and Fitness Facilities

Beyond natural adventures, Scotland boasts numerous community sports centres and fitness facilities. These venues offer swimming pools, gym classes, and organised sports, catering to both locals and visitors aiming to maintain their fitness routines during holidays.​

Exploring Active Holiday Options in France

Cycling and Hiking in the French Countryside

France’s countryside is a haven for cyclists and hikers. Regions like Provence and the Loire Valley offer picturesque trails that meander through vineyards, lavender fields, and historic villages. These routes provide both physical challenges and cultural enrichment.​

Water Sports Along the French Coast

The French coastline, stretching from Brittany to the French Riviera, offers ample opportunities for water-based activities. Surfing in Biarritz, sailing in the Mediterranean, or paddleboarding along the Atlantic coast are just a few options for water enthusiasts.​

Planning the Perfect Active Holiday

Balancing Fitness and Relaxation

An ideal active holiday strikes a balance between physical activities and relaxation. Incorporating rest days, spa visits, or leisurely cultural excursions ensures rejuvenation and prevents burnout.​

Packing Essentials for Active Travellers

Preparation is key. Essential items include appropriate footwear, weather-appropriate clothing, hydration packs, and any necessary equipment for planned activities. Researching the destination’s climate and terrain aids in efficient packing.​

Family-Friendly Activities for All Ages

Engaging Children in Physical Activities

Active holidays can be tailored for families. Engaging children in activities like nature trails, cycling, or swimming not only promotes health but also fosters family bonding. Interactive experiences, such as treasure hunts or wildlife spotting, keep younger travellers entertained.​

Facilities Catering to Families

Many destinations offer family-oriented accommodations with amenities like kids’ clubs, playgrounds, and child-friendly pools. These facilities ensure that while children are entertained, adults can also enjoy their preferred activities or some relaxation time.​ We would highly recommend checking out siblu for some extra options.

Cultural Experiences Complementing Physical Activities

Exploring Local Heritage Sites

Integrating visits to historical landmarks, museums, or cultural festivals enriches the holiday experience. In Scotland, exploring ancient castles or attending traditional Highland games adds depth to the trip. Similarly, in France, visiting châteaux or local markets offers cultural insights.​

Participating in Local Festivals and Events

Aligning travel dates with local festivals provides unique experiences. Engaging in events like France’s Bastille Day celebrations or Scotland’s Hogmanay offers travellers a deeper connection to the destination’s culture and traditions.​

Conclusion

Active holidays, blending fitness with leisure and cultural exploration, offer enriching experiences for travellers of all ages. Whether trekking through Scotland’s highlands or cycling in France’s countryside, these adventures promote well-being and create lasting memories.