EDITION 19
SUMMER 22
EDITOR’S NOTE
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THE FIVE Ps IN FOCUS: ADVENTURE SPEYSIDE
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MEET OUR ADVENTURE ABERDEEN INSTRUCTORS
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MANAGING DIRECTOR’S INSIGHTS
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W
elcome to the summer edition of Active News, our quarterly newsletter designed to showcase some of the wonderful work which has been carried out across the charity in recent months. Spirits have been high as we celebrated two award wins in April and June which is testament to our hardworking staff and the impactful initiatives that we deliver (page four).
creating opportunities, inspiring people and changing lives and through sport
physical activity.
through sport and physical activity.
4-9
Various employees took part in the national 2022 Step Count Challenge, organised by Scottish walking charity, Paths for All. Whether walking to work, going for a walk at lunch time or taking an evening stroll whilst listening to a podcast, it was great to see so many individuals reaping the benefits of a more active lifestyle (page five). Key ongoing projects are progressing well, including the Dyce Library transformation to a vibrant new sports clubhouse (page five) and the much-anticipated Get active @ Northfield refurbishment – on target to open in late summer 2022 (page six). We took a moment to reflect on the success of the Saltire Energy Caledonia Youth Cup finals day hosted at Get active @ Sheddocksley in May (page seven) and
it is hoped that we’ll have the opportunity to host a similar event in Aberdeen in the foreseeable future. Our Easter Holiday Camps received excellent feedback from both children and their parents (page seven) and we are gearing up for a busy summer with the ‘Summer in the City’ programme, delivered in partnership with Aberdeen City Council (page eight). We’ve recently established two noteworthy partnerships – one with Denis Law Legacy Trust and its flagship programme Streetsport, and the other with Aberdeen Seafarers Centre – a registered charity working to enhance the wellbeing of seafarers living in or visiting Aberdeen (page nine). We were delighted to welcome a new Chief Instructor to Adventure Speyside, Tom Oxtoby (page ten) and we caught up with two of our Adventure Aberdeen Outdoor Instructors Gavin and Daisy (page eleven). I hope this newsletter provides an exciting overview of what has been happening and we look forward to helping our city get active this summer!
Emma Murray Communications Manager & Active News Editor
Contact If you would like more information on anything in this edition, or would like to find out about work and volunteer opportunities with Sport Aberdeen, get in touch with us by emailing editor@sportaberdeen.co.uk
THE FIVE 5Ps PEOPLE & COMMUNITIES
It’s been an honour to be recognised with a series of award wins and nominations in recent weeks, recognising the wide-ranging work that we do in our local communities.
Scott started his career with us in July 2011 as a Leisure Attendant and was swiftly promoted to a Lifeguard. He was further promoted to a Duty Supervisor in 2016 and provides RLSS training for other staff across swimming pools. Pictured (Left - Right): Alistair Robertson, Managing Director; Andrinne Craig, Healthy Communities Manager; Mark Durden-Smith, Elevator Awards Host; Kim McRobbie, Inclusion Manager; Sarah Gray, Head of Marketing & Commercial Development; Gary McEwan, Elevator Chief Executive.
For more than 20 years, the Elevator Awards have been celebrating business success, entrepreneurial excellence and impressive community-driven initiatives in the north-east. Presenting the award, Polly Barnfield OBE, CEO of category sponsor Maybe* said: “All of the submissions were very strong, detailing a broad range of activity and engagement. Sport Aberdeen ultimately demonstrated the strongest collective community impact over a very challenging period for both the business and the wider community, as well as exciting and wideranging plans for the future.”
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Aurimas became part of the team in 2016, and a year later was promoted to a Duty Supervisor post. He also provides RLSS training for other staff across swimming pools.
PLACES Dyce Library undergoes radical transformation Work has commenced to convert former Dyce Library into a vibrant new sports clubhouse, providing firstclass facilities to support the adjacent Dyce sports pitches. Aberdeen City Council (ACC) and Sport Aberdeen have made a £300,000 investment in the refurbishment works. We are leading the project on behalf of ACC and Dyce Boys Club F.C. after ownership of the former library was transferred over to us. The investment will allow a venue to be created which will become a community sports hub, providing muchneeded changing, meeting and storage facilities for players, officials and referees. Current users of the sports pitches as well as the wider Dyce community will reap the benefits of the new changing space by the end of summer when the works are due for completion. Tony Dawson, Sport Aberdeen chairman, said: “I’m delighted that Sport Aberdeen is leading this innovative project and has come up with an imaginative way to make good use of the former library facility.
Winner at Elevator awards We were delighted to be crowned winner of the Community Impact award at the Elevator Awards ceremony, held at Ardoe House Hotel on Thursday 23 June.
Congratulations to three members of staff – James Snowdon, Scott Chadwick and Aurimas Rimkus – who were recently promoted from Duty Supervisors to Assistant Managers. James joined us in November 2017, having worked in the leisure industry for over a decade. He originally joined as a Lifeguard at Get active @ Beach Leisure Centre and was then promoted to Duty Supervisor in July 2018 at Get active @ Cults.
Awards success for community initiatives!
In April, we were named winner of the Making the Difference award in front of over 700 guests at the Northern Star Business Awards. The glittering event was held at P&J Above: Graeme Dale Live and highlighted the exceptional accomplishments of local businesses, with our award recognising the impact we have made towards driving positive change within our local community.
Three employees internally promoted to Assistant Managers
Above: From left, James Snowdon, Scott Chadwick and Aurimas Rimkus
Pictured (Left - Right): Andrinne Craig, Healthy Communities Manager; Kim McRobbie, Inclusion Manager; Polly Barnfield OBE, CEO of category sponsor Maybe*
Highly Commended at ukactive Awards National recognition was received at the ukactive Awards held in Birmingham on 30 June, where we were Highly Commended in the Healthy Communities category. This category recognised organisations who inspire the wider community to make physical activity part of its DNA, using their specific needs to shape initiatives and deliver significant results.
Step Count Challenge creates healthy competition
“The new sports clubhouse will be a sustainable facility and we look forward to working with key project partners Dyce Boys Club F.C. and Dyce Rugby Club to give them a place to call home.”
Ten Sport Aberdeen teams registered to take part in the national 2022 Step Count Challenge, organised by Scottish walking charity, Paths for All. Between 2 May and 26 June we joined teams across the country in recording our daily steps on the Step Count Challenge website. The workplace leader board allowed progress to be tracked, which encouraged some healthy competition! It’s been great to see so many individuals making small changes and reaping the benefits of walking more.
Graeme Dale, Head of Sport and Active Communities, said:
Congratulations to the ‘Ice Road Trekkers’ who came 1st on the Sport Aberdeen leaderboard, and 43rd out of more than 800 teams overall, racking up an incredible 4,553,260 steps! The team received a £100 Amazon gift voucher as their prize.
“Giving back and improving the lives of those in the local community is the lifeblood of what we do here at Sport Aberdeen, so it is great to receive recognition for our efforts.”
As well as benefiting physical and mental wellbeing, statistics show that a physically active workforce takes 27% fewer sick days - that works out at two days improved attendance annually per employee.
Above: A head of the renovation, players for Dyce Boys Club FC were joined by Councillor Jenny Laing - Leader of Aberdeen City Council at the time, Len Nicol - Treasurer and Coach at Dyce Boys Club FC and Tony Dawson
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PARTICIPATION standing and meaningful competition, but we could not have done it without the support of Sport Aberdeen for providing the Get active @ Sheddocksley playing fields as our host venue. On behalf of Scottish Rugby, I would like to extend my thanks to all at Sport Aberdeen for helping make our finals day such a success.”
Egg-citement was high for children at Easter Holiday Camps
Above: Grant Duncan, Senior Project Manager, sportscotland, Councillor Jenny Laing – Leader of Aberdeen City Council at the time and Tony Dawson visit Get active @ Northfield
Above: The newly refurbished Get active @ Jesmond
Get active @ Northfield refurbishment progressing well
Tony Dawson, Sport Aberdeen chairman, said:
The Northfield community will soon have access to one of the best health and wellbeing facilities of its kind in the city as works are progressing at pace for the revamp of the former Northfield Swimming Pool, based at Kettlehills Crescent. We were thrilled to secure sportscotland’s highest value grant of £100,000 to bring this project to life. Stewart Harris, chief executive at sportscotland, said: “It’s terrific to see the progress on Northfield Pool. This will be a fantastic asset for the local community, and a great addition to the sports facilities on offer across Aberdeen. “We are delighted to work in partnership with Aberdeen City Council and Sport Aberdeen to help make this project a reality. By combining our expertise and resources, we are able to target investment where it will have a real impact. It is thanks to National Lottery, which raises £30 million a week for Good Causes, that we are able to invest in projects like the Northfield Pool, providing more opportunities for people to take part in sport and physical activity.” In addition to the swimming pool, the venue will boast a large, fully accessible changing village, 40-station fitness suite, multi-purpose studio, dry changing facilities, clinical suites for use by NHS Grampian and ample car and cycle parking. With the construction programme in the final stages, the venue is on target to open later this summer.
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Designed to keep children active and entertained during the school holidays, our Easter Holiday Camps took place for two weeks in April. Above: Participants at the Caledonia Cup
“We are really looking forward to the doors opening at Get active @ Northfield. “It is fantastic for us to receive endorsement from sportscotland and we are delighted that Sport Aberdeen is a trusted partner to deliver this project effectively. “We know this will be an impressive venue for the Northfield community to enjoy and hope that individuals of all ages and abilities will feel inspired to get active and make use of the variety of facilities.”
The latest venue refresh at Get active @ Jesmond As part of our commitment to reinvest in our venues and deliver the best possible experience for our members, we recently upgraded Get active @ Jesmond. The gym floor was reworked in early April and fitness equipment updated with the latest digital software compatible with TRAKK, the free Pulse Fitness app. The gym reopened on Wednesday 27 April and featured new equipment includes a half rack with platform, a stepmill machine, a classic airbike and a StairMaster HIITMill X. In addition, Studio 2 has been opened up for gym use to create more space for members working out individually or in a group.
Well done Team Sport Aberdeen for a legacy event! On Sunday 1 May, we were delighted to partner with Scottish Rugby to host the Saltire Energy Caledonia Cup Youth finals day on the playing fields at Get active @ Sheddocksley. It was an action-packed day showcasing youth rugby – 750 youths played in 15 finals across five rugby pitches. So many members of our team played an integral role in making this event a success, both in the run up and on the day, while our grounds maintenance partners, idverde, ensured that the fields were in excellent condition for play. It was a great team effort by all and as a result, we received positive feedback from Scottish Rugby, club officials, supporters and sponsors. We even had a visit from The Lord Provost of Aberdeen at the time, Councillor Barney Crockett. Tony Dawson, chairman of Sport Aberdeen, said: “Sport Aberdeen was privileged to co-host this prestigious event.
We had a variety of camps to choose from which were hosted at different venues across the city, ranging from single day to week-long:
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Get active Multi-Sport Adventure Snowsports Multi-Activity Tennis and Multi-Sport Let’s Dance
Of the parents who completed our feedback survey, 89% of children rated their enjoyment of the camp as 8 or above out of 10. Feedback from delighted parents included: “It was my children’s first camp and they really enjoyed it, the staff were really friendly and made it an enjoyable day. They all said they would like to go again in the summer. Thank you for giving them a fun time.” “Staff were excellent, really appreciate the friendly and helpful team.” “Both my children thoroughly enjoyed their time at camp – thank you so much to the staff for all their hard work.”
“The buzz on the day was immense and I hope we have the opportunity to support a similar event in Aberdeen in the foreseeable future.” Fraser Govan, Regional Manager – Caledonia North, commented: “Sunday’s finals day of the Saltire Energy Caledonia Cup was simply outstanding! All fixtures were played in great spirit, with lots of talent and skill on display. It was a fantastic showcase event for rugby in the Caledonia region. “Scottish Rugby is proud to continue supporting our Caledonia clubs and communities access this long-
Above: Kids having fun at Easter Holiday Camps
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Summer in the City programme gearing up to be full of fun We have been busy organising this year’s Summer in the City programme, delivered in partnership with Aberdeen City Council. Summer in the City provides activities for children and young people to play, be active and enjoy themselves, and make new friends. These free spaces are offered to children who may not otherwise have the opportunity to take part in these activities, which can last for a single day or a full five-day week.
A new partnership has been established with CFine – a local charity committed to improving health and wellbeing and contributing to regeneration. It will see CFine providing a packed lunch for every child participating in a full day activity.
PARTNERSHIPS Influential partnership kickstarted with Denis Law Legacy Trust
We are really looking forward to welcoming all of the children to enjoy the benefits of sport over the summer!
“Having free access to the Astro pitches means we can deliver these sessions to the best of our ability with added staff and sporting equipment to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for our participants.”
New partnership to strengthen support for seafarers
Some of the programme activities this summer include exploring at Burn O’Vat and Rob Roy’s cave, visiting Balmedie Beach for sledging down sand dunes and playing games, a taste of athletics, dodgeball and lots more!
In March, we launched a dynamic new partnership to help make a difference to the welfare of seafarers in Aberdeen.
We are also running two weeks of camps specifically targeted at Afghan and Ukrainian refugees, as well as beginners intensive swimming lessons for Primary 5/6 pupils at different Swimming Pools across the city.
Above: Alistair Findlater, Chairman, Denis Law Legacy Trust, Tony Dawson and Mark Williams, Chief Operating Officer, Denis Law Legacy Trust
We’re thrilled to announce our new partnership with Denis Law Legacy Trust and its flagship programme, Streetsport.
PROCESS Mental Health Support for Colleagues We have more than 20 mental health first aiders working across the organisation, who have completed a two-day NHS accredited training course through Scotland’s Mental Health First Aid (SMHFA). The course enabled them to learn about mental health in the workplace and support their other colleagues and customers. We recently caught up with two of our mental health first aiders, Kim McRobbie and Craig Roberts, to find out what their roles entail.
Another key part of my role is easing the concerns of employees and working to reduce the stigma around mental health. I’m always happy to listen and will ask the appropriate questions to understand how people are feeling and then act accordingly.” Craig: “My role as a mental health first aider is to be that point of contact for any employees who feel like they are going through a difficult time. No matter how small they may think it might be, if it’s starting to affect how they feel day to day, they can come and talk to me as a general sounding board or for advice on where they can seek further support.” Discussions around mental health are so important – should you wish to talk to someone, Kim, Craig or any other mental health first aider can be contacted via email or mobile.
New event booking system
Above: Kim McRobbie and Craig Roberts
Kim: “My role is to build relationships and trust so that employees feel like they can speak to me about anything. I want to ensure that all staff are aware of the employee assistance programme and I’d encourage them to access this.
of spiralling costs for many, being able to host Streetsport sessions and offer free sport to young people across the city is so important.
We were delighted to launch our own in-house event booking system in March, ensuring a smoother transaction for customers booking activities such as Holiday Camps, Adventurous Activities and Active Schools extra-curricular activities. The new system allows customers to book and pay for these activities without the use of a third-party site. It has additional functionality for staff managing these activities and is a great addition to our website.
Streetsport, delivered in partnership with Robert Gordon University, aims to improve the lives of young people through free week-nightly sports and creative activity sessions across Aberdeen City. As part of the new collaboration, we will provide free access to our 3G pitches at both Lochside Academy Astro and Northfield Bill Burr Astro for Streetsport to deliver its weekly Friday night sessions. The partnership will run until March 2023, enabling Denis Law Legacy Trust to plan forward and ensure the youngsters in their respective areas will continue to have access to free sporting facilities into next year. Both charities play a key role in the local community, helping to inspire more children and young people to get active and have a positive impact on their lives through the power of sport. Tony Dawson, Sport Aberdeen chairman, said: “The new partnership provides exceptional synergies as both Sport Aberdeen and Streetsport are committed to creating opportunities for young people to take part in sport and physical activity. “We look forward to working more closely with Streetsport and supporting each other with future opportunities.” Alistair Findlater, Denis Law Legacy Trust chairman, said:
In partnership with Aberdeen Seafarers Centre – a registered charity working to enhance the wellbeing of seafarers living in or visiting Aberdeen - fitness memberships will be available free of charge to seafarers visiting the port of Aberdeen. Sarah Gray, Head of Marketing and Commercial Development, said: “We are delighted to join forces with Aberdeen Seafarers Centre and show our appreciation for an industry at the very heart of our city. “The partnership provides great synergies and we are happy to play our role in improving the emotional and physical welfare of visiting seafarers.”
Pupils picked up the pace at Fun Run Series Lead Active Schools Coordinator John Dixon organised the recent Fun Run Series in May, consisting of free races for Primary 1 to Primary 7 pupils at six different venues across the city. This was a big moment for the children as it was the first in-person Fun Run Series since 2019! Each series was made up of four race afternoons, with races open to all pupils P1 to P7 each week. More than 700 pupils registered to participate, and it provided a great way for them to race against their friends and the clock, as well as the opportunity for parents to come along and cheer them on!
Above: Fun Run participants
“We’re very grateful to Sport Aberdeen for its continued support and partnership. In a climate
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Meet our Adventure Aberdeen Outdoor Instructors…
IN FOCUS: Adventure Speyside and our new Chief Instructor, Tom Oxtoby We were delighted to bolster our team with the recent appointment of Chief Instructor at Adventure Speyside, Tom Oxtoby. Having a keen interest in outdoor pursuits from a young age, Tom obtained a BA (Hons) Outdoor Education in the Community degree from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow in his early career.
“Whether it’s a corporate team building day out, a full-week or weekend excursion for a group of adults or a school residential trip, Adventure Speyside has an array of bespoke packages to meet specific needs.” Those interested in embarking on a trip to Speyside can email adventureaberdeen@sportaberdeen.co.uk for further information.
Now with more than 30 years’ industry-relevant experience, Tom has worked at destinations including Blairvadach Outdoor Education Centre and centres based in Loch Lomond.
What motivated you to do the course in the first place?
Daisy: The thing that motivated me to do the course was seeing other outdoor instructors inspiring others and helping them to experience new activities and life skills. Gavin: I was paid off during the pandemic from my
I spent a few years gaining military qualifications, similar to the civilian ones you get today. I carried out an adventure training instructor role at Gordon Barracks in Aberdeen for a few years and looking back, this was an ace job.
Daisy & Gavin What do you love most about your job as an instructor?
Daisy: I love allowing people the opportunity to grow in confidence and realise what they are capable of, I find that so rewarding. Also being able to spend most of my time outside, with each day being very varied. The work I do is always exciting and fun! Gavin: Working outdoors has positively impacted
my physical and mental health, and I get to have so much fun whilst working, what a balance! My job allows me to inspire others and help them to better realise their abilities so they can challenge themselves whilst having lots of fun. I am a firm believer that our potential is endless, and we can achieve so much when we put our minds to it.
When I was made redundant, I decided to leave oil and gas completely, take a risk and look for a new more rewarding career – this is where Adventure Aberdeen came in. I successfully applied to be an instructor and went through the course. All of my previous career experience, coupled with being a keen ultra-marathon athlete, lead me to me pursuing a new career in the outdoors.
There is no doubt that Tom brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his new role, based at our Adventure Speyside venue on a full-time basis. He has ambitious plans for the outdoor activity centre – which is situated in the heart of the Cairngorms and reopened in April this year. It offers activities including gorge walking, mountain biking, abseiling, rock climbing, coasteering, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, and lots more!
What did you particularly enjoy about the course?
Commenting on his appointment, Tom said: “I am really excited to embark on this new chapter of my career.
Daisy: I enjoyed getting to work with highly skilled
outdoor instructors and learning from their experiences. I loved feeling pushed at points, but then supported and guided when I needed it – it was a good mix.
“I have a hunger for adventure and a passion for the outdoors, and I love sharing the experience with others so they can reap the benefits.
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We decided to find out more about what they gained from completing our Outdoor Instructor Training Course.
11-year career in the oil and gas industry. Prior to this, I served nine years in the British Army where I discovered my love for outdoor adventures.
To add to his endeavours, he spent eight years working abroad at a summer camp in New Hampshire, USA as Programme Director, showing 8 to 15-year olds the ropes with outdoor activities such as swimming and canoeing.
“Strathspey is a beautiful area of Scotland – it is my aim to attract new people to try new adventurous activities and enjoy all that is on offer.
Both sharing a passion for trying new activities and advocates of the great outdoors, we caught up with two of our Adventure Aberdeen Outdoor Instructors, Gavin Taylor and Daisy Farquharr.
Gavin: I loved meeting a whole bunch of like-minded Above: Adventure Speyside Activities
people, learning new skills and visiting new places. I learned loads from the excellent trainers, and I felt at home with all the assessments.
If you fancy participating in training towards National Governing Body qualifications which will equip you for a career as an outdoor instructor, then get in touch with us by emailing adventureaberdeen@sportaberdeen.co.uk
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MANAGING DIRECTOR’S INSIGHTS
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s we pass the halfway point in the year, it’s important to take a moment to acknowledge the triumphs we have experienced so far. After a very successful ‘Easter of Play’ we are delighted to be part of ‘Summer in the City’ – a programme of free activities for children to take part in during the summer holidays. This is delivered in partnership with Aberdeen City Council and presents the perfect opportunity for children and young people in Aberdeen to enjoy getting active. Creating opportunities, inspiring people and changing lives is at the very core of what we do, so we are extremely excited for the opening of Get active @ Northfield in late summer. The feedback we’ve received from our recent survey confirms the enthusiasm and eagerness felt by the local community – 98.5% of respondents said they’ll make use of the new venue when it opens and more than 85% said they’ll likely use it more than once a week.
access to our 3G pitches for its weekly Friday night sessions, allowing more young people to take part in sport. We’re also pleased with our recently established partnership with Aberdeen Seafarers Centre, contributing towards the improvement of the welfare of seafarers by giving them the chance to access the benefits of our ‘Get active 2’ membership. As I’m sure you’ll see, there is never a dull moment here at Sport Aberdeen. Whether its venue refreshes or innovative new projects kicking off, we are always trying to enhance the experience for our customers and members through reinvesting every penny we make. We hope that everyone has an enjoyable summer ahead and we hope the second half of the year is as positive and successful as the first.
Alistair S. Robertson Managing Director
We can’t wait to experience the buzz in the local community and surrounding areas when Get active @ Northfield opens – our editorial team will be able to provide a further update in the next issue of Active News. In addition, we’ll be able to update you on the opening of the new sports clubhouse located at the former Dyce Library site. We know this facility will be well received by local sports clubs, giving them a place to call home. It is important for us to keep our finger on the pulse and identify new partnership opportunities in order to collaborate with other organisations. We are proud to play our part in helping Streetsport by providing free
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