The 2018 Chairman’s Awards proved to be a great success again this year, with not one, not two…but three winners!
The first winner to be presented with the Peoples Award of the Year, was Jon Lurie.
Jon started working with Sport Aberdeen in February 2010 in the position of Leisure Attendant at Alex Collie Sports Centre, before being promoted to Health and Wellness Advisor in October 2013. The recipient of August 2018’s Employee of the Month, Jon was presented with this award for the passion and person centred approach he shows in his role.
Sport Aberdeen received a letter with glowing praise for Jon from a former participant recovering from prostate cancer who had been referred to light circuit training classes, of which Jon led. The participant could not speak more highly of Jon and wished to thank him for helping overcome a number of hurdles, one of which was getting back into physical activity which had been a large part of his life.
This particular story is one example of how Jon positively impacts the lives of his participants. Jon continually evaluates the needs of his participants to ensure that the activities remain relevant and they get the most out of their classes. The passion and dedication that Jon shows in his job is why he deserves to win the Peoples Nomination. Well done Jon!
The second winner of the Chairman’s Awards to be presented with Employee of the Year, was Ally Barron.
Ally was the recipient of Employee of the Month in March 2018 in recognition for his ongoing hard work and contribution to the successful and continued growth in membership sales. Ally has led teams and venues to achieve a substantial and sustained increase in membership sales leading to the increase in customers and investment opportunities.
Lastly, the team at Get active @ Sheddocksley were presented with the Chairman’s Award for Team of the Year.
The recipients of December 2018’s Employee of The Month in special recognition of their sheer guts and determination during the lead up to the reopening of Get active @ Sheddocksley. The team remained positive despite multiple delays to the project, staying focussed and always ensuring the customers were kept up to date with progress.
Congratulations to Jon, Ally, the Get active @ Sheddocksley team and all the 2018 Employee of the Month winners!
Registered charity, Sport Aberdeen has launched a new kind of workout that will leave you beaming and flexing for more.
Designed to replicate the strength training undertaken by professional gymnasts using the specialist equipment available at Sport Aberdeen’s Alex Collie Gymnastics Performance Centre, the newly launched GymFit class will provide a fresh and fun way to ‘Get active’ regardless of your gymnastic ability.
Taught by professional gymnastics coaches, the class consists of a variety of strength and conditioning exercises that focus on cardio, core and upper and lower body, leaving participants feeling fitter, healthier and one step closer to achieving that gymnast physique.
Sport Aberdeen’s Gymnastics Pathways Coordinator, Aynsley Henderson, said:
“GymFit has been designed to offer a fun way to help adults get active and pick up some new skills in the process. Taught by experienced and professional coaches, the class utilises the wide range of specialist equipment available at Alex Collie Gymnastics Performance Centre.”
Commenting on the new class, Keith Gerrard, Director of Healthy and Active Communities at Sport Aberdeen said:
“Sport Aberdeen is always looking at fresh and innovative ways to inspire people to ‘Get active’ across the city.
“We hope this new gymnastics themed fitness class will create the opportunity for people with an interest in gymnastics to learn new skills while having fun and keeping active.”
GymFit classes will take place at Sport Aberdeen’s Alex Collie Gymnastics Performance Centre on Wednesday’s and Thursday’s from 9.30 – 10.15am and on Friday’s from 12.15 – 12.45pm.
An initiative to beat hunger in the school holidays has recently been recognised for its outstanding service to the community, at the installation of the new Principal and Vice Chancellor of Aberdeen University, Professor George Boyne.
The project was presented with the inaugural University of Aberdeen Principal’s Award for Outstanding Service to the Community, at the ceremony conducted by the Duchess of Rothesay, Camilla Parker Bowles, at Elphinstone Hall, King’s College on 16 January.
Sport Aberdeen’s Director of Healthy and Active Communities, Keith Gerrard, said:
“For Food and Fun to be recognised at such as prestigious event as the Installation of the Principle and Vice Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen was a great honour.
“The project has made an enormous positive impact on those most in need during the school holidays and has only been achieved by the range of partners working collaboratively and sharing their expertise. Sport Aberdeen is proud to be a partner of this Aberdeen City Council project.”
This recognition follows on from Food and Fun’s success at the 2018 Aberdeen’s Sports Awards, where the project deservedly won the Community Sports Project of the Year Award.
The Food and Fun project which is supported by Sport Aberdeen, Community Food Initiative North East (CFINE), Police Scotland, sportscotland, Aberdeen FC Community Trust (AFCCT) and the Russell Anderson Foundation, was originally initiated to combat ‘holiday hunger’, the serious problem of children who rely heavily on their daily free school lunches that are not available to them over school holidays.
A survey to obtain citizens views on Community Justice has been launched by Community Planning Aberdeen’s Community Justice Group.
Community justice involves a diverse range of services, including health, housing, social work, third sector, as well as the police and courts, working together to repair harm to the community, address offending behaviour and support reintegration back into society.
Community Justice partners in Aberdeen are working to improve outcomes for people involved in the justice system, their families and communities.
In order to inform this work, they want to find out what the priorities, views and experiences are of those involved and to learn from them.
They also want to help communities better understand how the system and services function, to enable citizens support this work and make communities safer and stronger places to live, work and play.
According to statistics nearly two thirds (63%) of Scots do not know what community justice is* or its aims to empower communities and to provide people with the information needed to actively participate.
Aberdeen City Council’s Co-Leader, Councillor Jenny Laing, Chair of Community Planning Aberdeen Board, said: “We need citizens to be part of an effective Community Justice system to ensure that our communities are safer and stronger and by doing so making them better places to live, work and play.
“By raising awareness of what Community Justice is we want communities to actively participate in Community Justice. I would encourage citizens to take part in the survey as the results will help us to further develop community engagement in a matter that affects all of us.”
Jonathan Smith, Chair of Aberdeen Civic Forum and Aberdeen Community Council Forum, said: “It is essential that we all listen to the views of our communities, the experiences of those affected, stories shared by our neighbours and explore ways to be safer and more supported together.
”This is an opportunity for the people of Aberdeen to have a meaningful say in shaping the future of Community Justice, and to be part of making a lasting difference for the future of the city.”
The consultation is now open until 01 February 2020. Please click on the link below to take part in the consultation.
Paper copies of the questionnaire can be obtained by emailing: communityjusticeforall@aberdeencity.gov.uk or by writing to:
Community Justice Officer
Aberdeen City Council
Business Hub 11, 2nd Floor West
Marischal College
Broad Street
Aberdeen
AB10 1AB
The survey coincides with the Scotland-wide Second Chancers campaign, which has been launched by the national body Community Justice Scotland. It aims to raise awareness of what community justice is and building confidence in it as an effective sentencing option that reduces offending, reduces the number of victims and improves lives.
Sentences served in the community are more effective than sentences served in prison. Yet data has shown that nearly two thirds of the public don’t know what community justice is: only 21% of Scots agree that Scotland operates a smart justice system that is robust, effective and fair.*
Aimed at changing perceptions of what justice should look like in 21 century Scotland, Second Chancers is centred around the voices of those whose lives have been touched by the justice system.
Comprising of a series of short documentary films and a touring audio exhibition, the campaign tells authentic and raw stories of success and failure, change and transformation, obstacles and helping hands.
To watch ‘Second Chancer’ please click on the link: https://secondchancers.tv/
*Attitudes towards community justice. Independent research commissioned by Community Justice Scotland, published January 2018.
Are you signed up for this year’s BHGE 10K Running Festival and need a little help to keep your training on track?
Sport Aberdeen is offering one lucky person a free entry for the 2020 BHGE 10K Running Festival as well as the opportunity to share their training journey in the BHGE 10 weeks to 10K, which will be featured in the Evening Express every Saturday in the lead up to race day.
To take part, all you need to do is answer the questions below and send them to: BHGE10K@sportaberdeen.co.uk by 12.00pm on Wednesday 20 February.
Name:
Age:
Email Address:
How many times you have run the BHGE 10K:
Why you feel the BHGE 10 weeks to 10K plan will help you achieve your 10K goals?
The winner will be chosen at random and announced on Thursday 21 February.
Sport Aberdeen, organisers of the North East’s longest running charity road race and official partner, Deeside Mineral Water, have launched a competition for local children to design the label for the water bottles, which will be distributed to participants at the 2019 BHGE 10K Running Festival.
For 2019, Sport Aberdeen is continuing to reduce the amount of single use plastic used and are focusing on the importance of recycling.
With the beautiful Aberdeen beachfront and North Sea as the race’s backdrop, young people from schools across Aberdeen are being asked to design labels that that show how plastic bottles can be recycled responsibly to help save the incredible wildlife found in our local rivers, seas and oceans.
This is the fourth year Deeside Mineral Water has run the competition in partnership with Sport Aberdeen.
Keith Gerrard, Sport Aberdeen’s Director of Healthy and Active Communities, said:
“We were very impressed by last year’s competition entries and hope to build on the number received this year. Sport Aberdeen and Deeside Mineral Water are asking local children to think about the recycling element, with the winning design depicting how single use plastic bottles can be disposed of correctly and how recycling can help climate change.
“We hope children from across Aberdeen will get involved in this great opportunity and promote our sustainable city with their label designs.”
The winning design will be made into the water bottle label that will be handed out to runners at the finish line of the running festival on 5 May 2019. The winning designer will also be invited to see their labels being applied to the bottles on the production line and assist in officially starting the 10K race.
Managing Director of Deeside Mineral Water, Martin Simpson commented:
“We received so many imaginative designs from local children who entered the competition last year. The search is on once again to find the budding artist who will represent both the BHGE 10K Running Festival and Deeside Mineral Water at this year’s race.
“The child behind the winning design will be invited to attend a private tour of the Deeside Mineral Water factory to see their label design being applied to the 2019 race day bottles. They will also receive a case of Deeside Mineral Water and some Sport Aberdeen goodies including freebies and vouchers to be used at Sport Aberdeen venues across the City.”
The entry deadline for label designs is 12.00pm on Monday 4 March 2019.
For more information about the competition or to download entry forms, please visit: www.sportaberdeen.co.uk/deeside-mineral-water-competition
Granite City residents today (15 February) marked the launch of the 2019 Golden Games with a spontaneous dance performance choreographed by Citymoves Dance Agency at Aberdeen’s Bon Accord Centre, performed by dancers in their senior years.
This marks the launch of this year’s action packed games, which will take place at the start of June.
Established in 2011, the Golden Games are delivered by the Active Aberdeen Partnership (AAP) and aim to get older adults actively involved in physical activity regardless of age or ability.
The launch event also served as a thank you to the Golden Game Ambassadors for their continued support in developing, promoting and running the games, which has become a hugely successful and permanent fixture in Aberdeen’s sporting calendar.
Alistair Robertson, spokesman for the Active Aberdeen Partnership, said:
“Taking part in sport and physical activity is something that people of all ages and abilities can enjoy and has been proven to have a positive and lasting impact on a person’s overall health and wellbeing.
“The launch of the 2019 Golden Games is the perfect platform to try something new or return to physical activity in a fun and social environment.
“On behalf of the Active Aberdeen Partnership, I would like to thank each and every one of the ambassadors and organisations who support the initiative for their part in bringing the citywide games to life.”
The 2019 Golden Games will take place from 5 – 14 June and will include activities such as walking football, table tennis, target shooting, diving, skiing, pickleball, dance, health walks and seated exercise, allowing new and regular attendees to take part in physical activity.
Over fifty children with additional support needs (ASN) from six schools across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire took part in the ASN Racquet Sports Festival at Sport Aberdeen’s Aberdeen Tennis Centre.
Organised by Sport Aberdeen’s Active Schools team, with support from Tennis Aberdeen, Badminton Scotland and Aberdeen District Table Tennis Association, the event has become a regular fixture on the ASN calendar.
The non competitive event aims to create a positive, fun atmosphere where children with additional support needs are able to try their hand at sports they may otherwise not get the opportunity to.
Lead Active Schools Coordinator, Grant Wilson, who was in attendance at the event said:
“It was great to see so many children from across different schools have the opportunity to participate in sports they may not usually have access to. This is a great example of working in partnership with national governing bodies, local clubs and our tennis centre.”
This sentiment was echoed by Sport Aberdeen’s Director of Healthy and Active Communities, Keith Gerrard, who commented:
“It is fantastic to see partnerships bringing new activity opportunities to children with additional support needs across the city and shire.
“At Sport Aberdeen, we work with communities to create opportunities for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to feel welcome, inspired and empowered to take part in physical activity.”
The 2019 Racquet Sports Festival marked the first time that badminton has been included in the festival programme.
Each of the three sports involved in the festival – Tennis, Badminton and Table Tennis – offer youth pathways, which will allow the participating children to continue their preferred activity within the relevant clubs across the city.
Primary school children from across the city took part in a range of sporting activities as part of this year’s Love Sport Day on 12 February.
Love Sport Day is a citywide initiative which aims to give primary school pupils the opportunity to take part in sport. The event focusses on those who may not have the opportunity to take part in sport throughout the year. This annual celebration of sport aims to encourage participation at all levels and will include a wide variety of activities taking place across the city.
Run by Sport Aberdeen’s Active Schools team in partnership with North East of Scotland College (NESCOL) and Robert Gordon University (RGU), students studying BSc Sports Coaching at RGU and HNC/HND Sports Coaching with Sports Development at NESCOL, helped organise and arrange the events and activities across the participating schools.
Active Schools Coordinator, Sam Main, who took a lead role in the organisation of the day said:
“We are delighted to have organised our biggest ever Love Sport Day this year with events happening throughout the city.
“We hope that everyone who took part enjoyed the day are inspired to take up lots of new sports and activities as a result.
“A big special thanks has to go to all of the staff and students at North East of Scotland College for the hard work they did in organising and running these events.”
All of the events were very well attended, and in some cases fully booked, proving a real appetite for sport amongst the children taking part.
This year’s events took place at Culter School, Dyce Primary, Hazlehead Primary, Seaton Primary School, Skene Square Primary, Oldmachar Academy and Sport Aberdeen’s Get active @ Beacon, Get active @ Sheddocksley and Torry Sports Centre.
Commenting on the success of the event, Sport Aberdeen’s Director of Healthy and Active Communities, Keith Gerrard said:
“Days such as this that help instil a sense of excitement and friendly competition to children are incredibly important in getting young people engaged and setting them on a course to get active and stay active.
“Tuesday’s events were across the board a great success and in many cases were totally booked out. The Active Schools team and North East Scotland College students organised a day that they can all be proud of.”
Sport Aberdeen, organisers of the North East’s longest running charity road race and title sponsor, Baker Hughes, a GE company, are today (8 February) calling on participants to take on the challenge and raise money for a worthy cause as they announced the ten affiliated charities for the 2019 BHGE 10K Running Festival.
The ten worthy causes – including new charities for 2019, The Archie Foundation and ABSAFE – will join existing BHGE 10K affiliate charities Friends of Anchor, Charlie House, Inspire, Cash for Kids, Aberdeen Cyrenians, Children 1st, CLAN, and Befriend a Child in the charity line up for the 2019 event.
Commenting on the ARCHIE Foundation’s selection for the 2019 BHGE 10K Running Festival, Jamie Smith, Regional Fundraising Manager at The ARCHIE Foundation said:
“We are thrilled to be chosen as one of the affiliated charities for the 2019 BHGE 10K. This is a fantastic opportunity for us to raise awareness of the incredible impact ARCHIE has on children and their families across the north of Scotland.
“We are inviting our supporters to sign up to the BHGE 10K and help ARCHIE in making the difference locally.”
Every year, tens of thousands of pounds are raised each year through the BHGE 10K Running Festival and each affiliated charity rely heavily on the funding and donations received to continue delivering the life changing work that they do day in and day out in Aberdeen and the surrounding area.
As an affiliate charity of the BHGE 10K Running Festival, each charity is encouraged to recruit budding runners and those seeking to take on the challenge, to sign up and raise money and awareness in support of their chosen charity.
Keith Gerrard, Sport Aberdeen’s Director of Healthy and Active Communities, said:
“The BHGE 10K Running Festival brings together people from far and wide and is a fantastic example of how partnership working allows us to deliver great events in the North East of Scotland, while raising money for charity.
“We are thrilled to announce the affiliated race charities for 2019 and look forward to welcoming new faces of all ages to the event. The support that the event receives each year is inspiring and I strongly urge anyone who wishes to run the BHGE 10K as their next challenge, to take it on while supporting one of ten deserving causes across Aberdeen.”