Care Day takes place on the third Friday in February each year and has continued to go from strength to strength. It is now recognised internationally as an opportunity to celebrate the lives, rights and voices of care experienced people.  

At Sport Aberdeen we believe that everyone in Aberdeen should have access to sport and physical activity regardless of age, ability, gender or background and delivers numerous targeted programmes ensuring that everyone in the city can get active. 

SPACE (Supported Physical Activity for Care Experienced) is Sport Aberdeen’s innovative, award-winning project that utilises the positive benefits of sport and physical activity to help care experienced children and young people (CECYP) reach their full potential through bespoke interventions.

The initiative is an evolution of the pioneering Looked After Project, which began in August 2016 in partnership with Aberdeen City Council. As a corporate parent, Aberdeen City Council currently has responsibility for over 450 CECYP living within the city and throughout the UK. The project aims to remove barriers and support participants to improve their physical health, emotional wellbeing and enhance key life skills, using the power of sport and physical activity as a catalyst for positive change.

^{SPACE participant Jyden at a presentation for his volunteering achievements}  

Providing bespoke 1-2-1 and small group interventions, utilising a child-centred approach with the needs and views of children and young people at its core, the partnership approach has developed new and existing opportunities for CECYP. The charity’s commitment to provide every CECYP and their caregivers/ siblings with a free Sport Aberdeen membership, providing access to gyms, swimming, badminton and other activities has continued this year with 66 new memberships being allocated this term.

“We would like to extend a massive thanks to Sport Aberdeen, and the staff at Adventure Aberdeen.  It’s great to work in partnership and to have such a good service which will help to promote health and well-being for the young people we support.”

Rebecca Christie, Linksfield Residential Service Senior Practitioner

Funding secured through the ‘Scotland Cycle Repair Scheme’ recently allowed Sport Aberdeen to breathe life back into a total of five bikes from Barnardo’s Linksfield Residential Service, an established childcare service in partnership with Aberdeen City Council, which were taken to Adventure Aberdeen’s bike workshop in Kingswells. Read more here.

In addition to the bespoke interventions, Sport Aberdeen pride themselves on the wider support they provide, striving to not only fulfil their role as a corporate parent, but to embrace “The Promise” by ensuring CECYP are supported to achieve their full potential and get the childhood they deserve.

To find out more about the positive impact of sport in the lives of care experienced young people, read Jyden’s story here.