Sport Aberdeen has secured £2,000 in funding to deliver an innovative new swimming programme aimed at supporting women who have experienced abuse.
The charitable leisure trust has developed a six week swimming programme to support women who have experience some form of abuse. The project will now be rolled out as a pilot after it successfully secured funding from the Women’s Fund for Scotland, administered by Foundation Scotland.
It will be led by Sport Aberdeen with support from the Violence Against Women Partnership Aberdeen.
Commenting, Sport Aberdeen Aquatics Manager Dianne Breen said:
“The developed programme will consist of two six-week swimming taster courses to enable women to gain confidence in the swimming pool.
“The one hour weekly session, taught by a qualified teacher, will teach women to swim and will be based on the individual needs and requirements of the women.
“Sport Aberdeen is committed to creating opportunities, inspiring people and changing lives through sport and physical activity.
“Thanks to the funding secured from the Women’s Fund for Scotland, Sport Aberdeen and the Violence Against Women Partnership Aberdeen can now look forward to rolling out this innovative project.”
The Chair of Violence Against Women Partnership Aberdeen, Cllr Lesley Dunbar, added:
“We look forward to this being the beginning of some sport and physical activity partnership working with Sport Aberdeen.”
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.
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.
The entry level Live Well Classes are to be hosted at Westburn Outdoor Sports Centre with the aim of catering to the needs of those getting back into fitness or those who prefer a more gentle session.
The classes include Live Well Stretch, Live Well Circuits, Healthy Active Minds and Stable & Able. All of the classes incorporate a relaxed approach to building up a sweat whilst avoiding a high heart rate and are particularly suitable for those who are part of health condition specific classes such as the 12 week Macmillan Move More treatment.
The latter two classes are free to attend for a limited period with Stable & Able particularly catering for older adults looking to prevent falls and maintain independence as well as those with a physical disability.
A Sport Aberdeen spokesperson said:
“Fitness and exercise is often associated with high octane workouts but it is important to remember the importance of physical activity to everyone of any ability. The introduction of these classes reflects our desire to provide the community with as many opportunities as possible to remain healthy regardless of circumstances.”
Those interested should contact Westburn Outdoor Sports Centre on 01224 641719.
An Aberdeen project which helps people affected by cancer get active has welcomed its 100th participant to the programme.
Move More Aberdeen, which is celebrating the first anniversary of its official launch this month, includes walking groups, a gentle movement class, circuits-based activity classes and gardening.
The programme has just seen the 100th participant join one of its walking groups which provide a fun and sociable way of getting more active, while getting outside and enjoying some fresh air.
Around half of the participants on the programme have completed a 12-week session and a fifth have carried on to take part in a further one or two activities.
Macmillan Cancer Support invested over £200,000 to develop Move More Aberdeen in partnership with Sport Aberdeen.
As well as helping people cope with the side effects of treatment, it also provides them with an opportunity to meet others in a similar situation and reduces the loneliness and isolation that the disease can create for those affected.
Penny Morrice, from Aberdeen, took part in a Move More Aberdeen circuit class after being diagnosed with breast cancer a year ago.
“What I found difficult was getting over the shock of having something wrong with me because I felt perfectly well,” she says. “I didn’t really take very kindly to having to have surgery and radiotherapy.
“By the end of the treatment, I was getting fed up and someone from the radiotherapy department suggested I join a Move More class.
“I had joined the gym earlier on that year but the treatment and everything else had got in the way. I was really happy about the idea of getting back to doing exercise and it was actually the best thing I have ever done.”
The 63-year-old grandmother signed up to the Move More circuits group at Sheddocksley Sports Centre.
“There had been all this publicity about breast cancer and cancer in general, especially for women, that if you lost that wee bit of weight and got fitter it would help your chances. I still believe anything I can do that stops the cancer coming back again, I will do.
“For me it helped my mental attitude more than anything. Doing exercise makes you feel good and as you get fitter you feel better. It’s a positive circle.
“It has been so beneficial. I’m much more positive, I feel fitter and it’s also the people. They have all been in the same situation. None of us talked about what we had been through but you could see everyone improving as the weeks went on.
“We all looked after each other to a certain degree and it was a very, very friendly class.”
Josefine Bjorkqvist, Macmillan Development Officer at Sport Aberdeen said: “Our partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support through the Move More programme is critical to Sport Aberdeen’s efforts to create opportunities, inspire people and change lives through sport and physical activity.
“The programme demonstrates the benefits of remaining active for people affected by cancer and it is important we continue to work towards integrating physical activity into routine care for those living with and beyond cancer.”