The latest data published by sportscotland shows that the national Active Schools programme continues to have a positive impact on children’s physical activity levels with 7.3 million visits made to activities across Scotland in 2018/19, an increase of 0.4% on the previous year.
The Active Schools programme seeks to create more opportunities for young people to take part in sport and physical activity across the country, with 123,037 visits made to sessions in the East Dunbartonshire Council area during the last academic year.
During this time a total of 7,071 children and young people took part in Active Schools sessions in East Dunbartonshire, where they were given access to an extensive range of activities. The number of people delivering sessions across the country has also increased by 3.3% over the past year. In the East Dunbartonshire area, 90% of the 662 deliverers were volunteers.
Chair of the East Dunbartonshire Leisure & Culture Trust, Sandy Marshall, said:
"The active schools programme is very well received in East Dunbartonshire with children and young people taking part in a large variety of different sporting activities within their school and local community. By developing an interest in sport at a young age, children are more likely to go on to lead healthy active lives throughout their adulthood – something we are keen to encourage here at EDLC Trust."
Councillor Billy Hendry, Convener of Place, Neighbourhood & Corporate Assets, said:
"I'm pleased the active schools programme is continuing to develop opportunities for children and young people within East Dunbartonshire to engage in physical activity and sport. Not only are our young people developing their sporting skills and improving their health, the active schools programme offers excellent training and volunteering opportunities for young leaders, as well as teachers, parents and other members of our community. Through this our young people are learn important life skills that will benefit them as they go on to further education or into the workplace."
Mel Young, Chair of sportscotland, said:
“It is fantastic to see that Active Schools continues to grow year on year with more opportunities delivered and another increase in the number of people participating.
Our mission is to help the people of Scotland get the most out of the sporting system at every level and Active Schools has a crucial role to play in engaging young people in sport and physical activity.
“We talk about making an impact together and Active Schools is a great example of working with the right partners in the right way to deliver results. The Active Schools network is reliant on strong local partnerships with schools, local authorities, sport development teams, regional managers from governing bodies of sport, volunteers and the clubs who welcome children and young people into their communities.”
Active Schools, one of sportscotland’s longest running flagship programmes, is designed to provide more and higher quality opportunities to take part in sport and physical activity before school, during lunchtime and after school. Developing effective pathways between schools and sports clubs in the local community is a key factor in its success and there are now 2,700 clubs linking directly with schools giving children and young people the opportunity to continue in sports to the level they choose.
Delivered in partnership with all 32 local authorities and their leisure trusts in primary, secondary and ASN schools, Active Schools is now a well-established network of over 400 managers and coordinators and makes a significant contribution to delivering an active Scotland.
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