Celebrating 20 years of Active Schools in East Renfrewshire

Young people in East Renfrewshire are marking a major sporting milestone, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Active Schools initiative.

Article Source: East Renfrewshire Culture & Leisure
Last Updated: 10 September 2024 10:07

East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure's Active Schools team is part of a national network, working with sportscotland, dedicated to developing and supporting the delivery of quality sporting opportunities for children and young people.

The initiative, which launched in 2004, has supported thousands of young people across the region in keeping active and healthy during their school years and encouraged many sports journeys to continue, contributing to Scotland's leading sporting system.

Reflecting on the 20th anniversary of Active Schools in East Renfrewshire, 21-year-old Kira Henry from Barrhead shared how her inspirational sports journey started with Active Schools, from participating to volunteering and leading. Since then, Kira has been involved in the Young Ambassadors programme, Young People’s Sport Panel and was named amongst Scotland's most inspirational young women in 2021. She is now working towards a career as a PE teacher and shares her story to help raise awareness of the role of sport in supporting care experienced young people.

Kira said: "The first time I was involved with Active Schools was a football game, when I was in primary four. It was my first time playing competitively - a proper game against another school. I never looked back from that.

"Having the relationship with Active Schools helped me to build my relationship with my PE teachers. I did cross country, became a tennis ambassador and did a tennis coaching course. I wouldn't have done that without the Active Schools team. I started volunteering through Active Schools, which I did every school holiday until I went to university.

"I was a really quiet kid. I wouldn't have chosen the career I'm going to do without it as I wouldn't have had the confidence. Sport brought me out of my shell."

The Active Schools team has a wide variety of sporting events and tournaments lined up to mark the milestone in style throughout the year, from cross country championships, football festivals and various sports tournaments, to the annual Secondary School games and East Renfrewshire Dance Championships for primary and secondary schools.

Councillor Andrew Anderson, Convener for Education, Equalities, Culture and Leisure, said: “The Active Schools programme has become an integral part of providing our children and young people with the opportunity to get involved in a wide-range of sport and physical activity. By providing a large range of high-quality opportunities to take part in activities before school, during lunchtime and after school, it helps to foster an appreciation of living an active, healthy life and supports our children and young people to achieve. It’s also important to recognise the amazing contribution of all the dedicated coordinators and volunteers over the past 20 years, who have ensured the East Renfrewshire Active Schools programme continues to go from strength to strength.”

Anthony McReavy, East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure's Chief Executive, added: "We're very proud to mark the 20th anniversary of our Active Schools team in East Renfrewshire.

"Our team motivates and inspires young people each year to participate in sport, working with every primary and secondary school across East Renfrewshire to support school activities and develop further opportunities for young people to participate in sport outside school hours. Active Schools also develops pathways between schools and leading sports clubs in the local community and supports hundreds of sports volunteers to develop new skills, lead activity sessions and support school career pathways and progression.

"It has been fantastic to see the team's progress over the years and we look forward to continuing to support young people across the region with their sports journeys in the years to come."

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