Sport Aberdeen is delighted to announce that its Community Sport team recently received £10,520 for a ‘New Scots Physical Activity Activation Project’ following a successful application for funding.
The funding was received from the National Lottery Community Fund which is made possible by National Lottery players.
The funding will be used to deliver health and fitness programmes under a one-year pilot to support both the physical health and mental wellbeing of New Scots living in Aberdeen.
At present, Sport Aberdeen has developed various projects to support New Scots including football, cricket and basketball sessions – and this pioneering “New Scots Physical Activity Activation” project will form part of the wider work.
The work to date had helped to break down barriers to participation in sport and physical activity including cost and transport.
As part of the New Scots Physical Activity Activation project, health and fitness instructors will deliver entry level fitness programmes ranging from circuit sessions and boxercise, to Pilates and yoga.
Above: New Scots ‘Football for All’ project delivered by Sport Aberdeen’s Community Sport Team
Mark Pain, Community Sport Manager at Sport Aberdeen said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with the National Lottery to deliver programmes which will improve both the mental and physical health of those with significant need across Aberdeen City.
“The work we’ve been doing so far as a team has had an incredibly positive impact on New Scots, helping them to integrate within the local community and we look forward to developing and expanding on this further throughout our new project.
Group Health & Fitness Manager at Sport Aberdeen, Evelyn Mair said: “I am delighted to be able to work with this community and bring fun through fitness, inspire and educate, whilst improving physical and mental health to New Scots across Aberdeen.”
The National Lottery Community Fund, Scotland Chair, Kate Still said: “Every day National Lottery funding is changing the lives of thousands of people in communities across Scotland for the better.
“This project delivered by Sport Aberdeen, is a great example of community activity in action, showing just what can be achieved when people come together for a common cause or to help others.
“National Lottery players can be proud to know that the money they raise is helping to support this vital work which is making a real difference to so many.”
Sport Aberdeen and local Bridge of Don Amateur Swim Club (BODASC) have forged a longstanding partnership built on mutual support and shared goals.
The charity’s vital contribution to BODASC’s entry squad ensures that incoming swimmers arrive consistently and well-equipped to learn. The collaboration extends to events including the Club Ready Competition, aimed at enhancing the swimmer experience and creating seamless transitions into the club.
The Club Ready Competition is one of the numerous benefits from the established partnership between Sport Aberdeen and BODASC. By creating a smoother transition for swimmers, the competition has led to increased club membership and improved transparency in the enrolment process.
It also serves as a valuable opportunity for swimmers and parents to meet club coaches, providing an insight into BODASC’s culture and kickstarting relationships crucial for the future of the club and the sport.
The Club Ready Competition was developed to streamline the transition process from Learn to Swim to club participation. By creating a welcoming environment where possible swimmers and their families can interact with current members, the competition helps to create a sense of unity within the swimming community.
Through planning and coordination between BODASC, Sport Aberdeen and a dedicated team of volunteers, the latest event ran smoothly, with over 45 swimmers participating. Some swimmers chose to sign up immediately with others continuing their lessons with Sport Aberdeen, allowing them to further develop their skills before deciding whether to join a club.
The presence of participation certificates, which included swimmers’ personal times, reinforced the inclusive spirit of the event, celebrating every swimmer’s efforts and achievements.
Looking ahead, BODASC’s vision involves a continued focus on nurturing its partnership with Sport Aberdeen with open communication channels and proactively identifying opportunities for further collaboration. Moreover, the club plans to expand its efforts by organising additional Club Ready meets.
These events not only streamline the personal transition process for swimmers but also serve as pivotal moments for integrating new members into the BODASC club vibrant culture.
Along with BODASC, Sport Aberdeen supports and works alongside various other swimming clubs across the city. These partnerships ensure that collectively, Sport Aberdeen and the swimming clubs can create an environment where every swimmer can thrive and reach their full potential.
To find out more about Sport Aberdeen’s Learn to Swim programme, click HERE
The 18-year-old, who is currently a leisure attendant at Linx Ice Arena, will be taking part in two different events in the coming months to raise money and awareness for Cancer Research.
Samantha sadly lost her Grandma recently who passed away with mesothelioma, a lung cancer which is caused by asbestos.
Her passion for the cause is the driving force for her efforts: “For me, I have such a personal motivation to raise awareness of the disease and to raise funding for Cancer Research.
“Being so passionate and caring is a large part of why I’m doing it. I also don’t want to see other people have to go through what we have had to as a family.”
The first event Samantha has signed up for is the MacMillan 100 push ups a day in April challenge. The second is the Cancer UK Race for Life on 30th June where Samantha will be taking part in the 10km run.
Speaking of the challenges, Samantha has no fear going into them: “I’ll be throwing myself into the deep end when it comes to the push up challenge. My plan is to do sets of 25 spread out over the day to make the challenge a bit more manageable.
“With the Race for Life event, I used to enjoy doing 5k runs a few times a week, so I am aiming to train to try and get my 10k time down.”
Samantha’s family have been there every step of the way: “My friends and family have been so supportive of everything. It was actually my mum who sent me the link to sign up for the Race for Life! They have been amazing.”
Speaking about a target of raising money, Samantha hasn’t set her sights on a particular amount, she is just keen to raise as much as possible: “I haven’t set a certain amount as to how much I want to raise.
“Every little helps when it comes to such a great cause. I would just ask for people to donate however much they can, every penny can make a difference.”
“I love my fitness and helping others. Having the opportunity to put those two things together to try to make a difference is an amazing opportunity. If I can help Cancer Research and make the fundraising more widely known, then I will feel happy.”
https://www.facebook.com/donate/901332965025006/?fundraiser_source=external_url
https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/samsraceforlifeea
Since last speaking to Sport Aberdeen leisure attendant Liam Howe, he has competed in three fights at Rox Hotel in Aberdeen in May and November of 2023 respectively and won them all.
Most recently in January this year, the young prospect competed at the Scottish Development Championships at the Raven’s Craig Centre in Motherwell and went one step further than last year and won! Having won the same event in 2022, the latest victory makes him a two-time Scottish champion.
Liam who is usually based at Get active @ Alex Collie or Get active @ Jesmond is now training for his next competition – The National Open Elite Championships, more commonly known as the Golden Gloves. The event takes place over three weekends with the final being held on Saturday 13th April should he progress.
Speaking about the training going into the event, Liam believes that maintaining high standards will be the key to success: “I fight at 60kg so to make the weight I need to be 60 on the dot or below and can’t be any heavier”
“For the first time since I began boxing, I got a nutritionist involved at the beginning of December 2023. My nutritionist also helps me with meal preparations and macros.
“My nutritionist sends me meal plans which consists of high protein low carb diets but enough carbs to get me through my training but I need to stay in a calorie deficit throughout so I’m burning more than I eat every day. On top of that train in sweatsuits to lose water weight in the lead up to fights
“I would usually give myself one month to cut the weight, but this can be incredibly tight. However, this time I have given myself double the time to get to the weight I need to be. Reducing the weight more gradually over time has definitely been a better way of cutting.”
The final preparations for an upcoming fight can really take its toll and Liam believes that this is the most difficult time: “I always find the final push towards the fight the most difficult. When it gets to 3-4 days before the fight, I am only eating 300 calories per day.
“I’ll have a diet of liquid egg whites for dinners, shredded lettuce plus a little bit of sauce so it’s not as bland. Black coffee is my go-to in the morning with a splash of milk.
“I tend to take the week off work before a fight as I can get a bit moody!”
The training schedule for Liam is incredibly intense: “I’ll train at Byron Boxing Club either three or four times a week for 2-hour sessions. We spar three nights a week and at weekends we do circuits.
“There are 5 or 6 coaches there per session, and there’s maybe about 15 actual boxers. There are also a few kids and “keep fitters” who are there for fun, training and skipping or hitting the punchbags.
“I use Get active @ Alex Collie or Get active @ Jesmond on the days I’m not at Byron. At a minimum, I get one rest day a week. Sometimes I’ll do double sessions, gym and then Byron at night. I always want to push my fitness to the next level.
“I will do sprints on the treadmill or up a hill trying to emulate a fight by doing intervals of 3 mins of sprinting with one minute to rest. I’ll do this 3 times to try and mimic the duration and structure of a bout.
“I also do weight training once or twice a week mixed in with body weight exercises. It keeps me strong and keeps muscle on as I’m losing weight and on a tight calorie intake.
“You really have to be disciplined in turning up to do the work but once you actually get going it’s fine, I just do it. Even if I’m hungry, I queue a schedule of songs I want and that gets me motivated.
“Despite it being quite repetitive for training, I just have to think to myself “I need to do this” and don’t want to give any edge to the opposing side. I’ll get the work done no matter how I feel.”
“The little things really do matter, it’s the unseen stuff that matters most. It’s all about the journey to getting where I want to be.”
When he does get a break from training, Liam tries to make the most of it: “I make a list of things I can eat. Chocolate, bakery items and takeaways – usually Chinese or Dominos. I definitely overindulge for a few weeks and then get back to normal eating. It’s nice to get back to a bit of normality after cutting so much weight.
Liam has a home show to look forward to in May at Pittodrie Stadium in one of the lounges!
If you feel inspired and motivated by Liam’s story, then why not sign up for a Fitness membership here. You can get a free fitness consultation to support with your goals too!
Active Girls Day is an annual initiative that celebrates the amazing work going into girls’ sport the progress around their participation, and acknowledging the incredible role models making it all happen.
Historically it was celebrated on a single day, but Active Schools has decided to extend the celebrations for the whole month of March.
It is so important for everyone to get involved in sport and physical activity, but some groups face unique challenges and barriers to participation. For girls specifically, some of these barriers include their experiences in PE, struggles with self-esteem and body confidence, and wider issues such as access to facilities and the lack of visible female role models in sport.
Despite progress in breaking down these barriers, there is still a noticeable gap between female and male participation rates, especially during the teenage years. There is some incredible work happening across Active Schools in Aberdeen in attempt to bridge this gap to make sport and physical activity more inclusive for everyone.
Active Girls Day is all about raising awareness of this work and celebrating the positive impact made!
‘Confidance’ Programme
A new ‘Confidance’ programme has been launched by Active Schools Aberdeen in Abbotswell Road School and Greyhope School, building girls’ confidence through dance. With participants from P6 and P7, this exciting initiative aims to empower young minds while promoting physical activity and mental well-being.
At its core, the programme seeks to act as a vehicle of change for young people. By engaging in dance, participants not only enhance their physical well-being but also cultivate self-esteem and confidence.
Sarah Masterson, Active Schools Assistant and Programme Organiser at Sport Aberdeen, said: “I am excited to share my lifelong passion for dance with young people in schools! Dance is such a powerful expression of self, together with physical intensity, that really allows us to explore and process what it means to be human. I hope that my work helps to develop self-belief and confidence in future generations.”
Each week, Sarah gathers with the girls in the programme to discuss various aspects surrounding confidence such as how to build self -belief and what it means to be authentic. Sarah then links the music track choice and choreography to that discussion to consolidate and implement the chosen topic.
One of the standout features of the ‘Confidance’ programme is its emphasis on connection. Participants are encouraged to connect with themselves, their coach, fellow participants and the music. This holistic approach creates a supportive environment where girls feel both challenged and encouraged to express themselves freely.
These sessions have been running successfully in 45–60-minute blocks for the past three weeks. The duration strikes a balance between engagement and accessibility.
The ‘Confidance’ programme is not solely about dance; it is about fostering confidence, connection, and empowerment. As participants continue to explore the world of movement and expression, they are equipped with valuable tools to navigate the challenges of growing up with confidence and resilience.
Young Ambassadors at St Machar Academy
Young Ambassadors at St Machar Academy – Alesha and Ebony – are having an incredible impact on their peers by getting them excited about sport and physical activity.
With the guidance of Active Schools Co-ordinator James Sadio and PE teacher Mr. Derek Kasslestrand, Alesha and Ebony have been brainstorming ideas to promote sport and physical activity within their school and the wider community. Their brainstorming sessions have led to some fantastic initiatives including the lunchtime volleyball club exclusively for female pupils. What started with only a few participants has grown into a thriving club, with 20-25 girls showing up each week.
Ebony recently suggested starting a sports club for P6-P7 students for all schools across the Hazelhead ASG (associated school group which she will coach it herself – a brilliant opportunity to see her confidence and leadership skills grow and shine through.
Every six weeks, Alesha, Ebony, James and Mr. Kasslestrand come together to brainstorm strategies for promoting sports participation and enhancing the overall Active Schools experience. This led to Alesha’s brilliant idea of creating a notice board to celebrate student sporting achievements. Because at Active Schools, every success is worth celebrating!
So, here’s to Alesha, Ebony, and all the Young Ambassadors making a real difference in their schools and communities. With their passion and dedication, the future of sports at St Machar Academy is brighter than ever!
With Sport Aberdeen celebrating Active Girls Day for the entire month of March, it is a perfect time to highlight the remarkable efforts of programmes like ‘Confidance’ and the dedication of young ambassadors like Alesha and Ebony. Together, we’ll continue to dismantle barriers and nurture confidence in girls’ sports and physical activity.
Sport Aberdeen’s Active Schools team was delighted to receive funding of £3037 in November after a successful application to the Aberdeen City Health Improvement fund to deliver its ‘Stay, Play & Connect’ programme.
The programme offers sessions across the city to help young people with neurological conditions, hearing or visual impairments to be more physically active by creating an inclusive and non-judgemental environment.
So far, 65 young people have attended throughout February across 10 different sessions, with 41 of these being first time participants.
The sessions have taken place at 8 different venues and pupils from 22 different schools have taken part from all stages of primary school, as well as some S1, S2 and S5 pupils.
Each session is delivered in a relaxed environment offering exploration through play in style with equipment set up to allow all participants to engage with it as and when they choose to do so.
More sport-specific activities are also offered including basketball and tennis and sensory and play equipment.
The sessions are for the whole family to attend so that parents and carers have the opportunity to socialise with other parents and create a community they feel a part of. Siblings can also attend, eliminating any issues around childcare.
One participant who attended said: “I would just like to say how much we have enjoyed the sessions and hope they continue to run moving forward, as there are limited classes for children with ASN across the City.”
Another person who goes to the sessions added: “We have attended many of the sessions across Aberdeen city and the staff have been absolutely brilliant with my son who has ADHD. He can be very rough and hyper! There is no judgement and they know exactly how to speak to him and guide him when he’s doing something he shouldn’t.”
A parent of one of the children who attends said: “I loved the relaxed sessions and my son enjoyed the activities also. I felt at ease knowing that my child could be himself and no-one would stare. And the icing on the cake you can bring siblings!”
Another parent said: “I am really pleased we found these sessions; my child is much happier and calmer on days we’ve attended and he looks forward to the sessions. He has taken a shine to Scott and Jamie and looks forward to seeing them each week!”
On the evening of Sunday 10 March, Aberdeen Synchronised Ice Skating Club held its end of season showcase at Linx Ice Arena which was deemed a huge success, raising almost £500 on the night.
To mark the end of the 2023/2024 season, the club’s five teams performed their routines to family, friends, invited guests and skaters interested in joining the club, with skaters ranging in age from 8 years old up to their most senior skater who is in her 70s.
Head coach, Sara Paterson, was delighted with how the evening went: “At the end of the season we invite all our families and friends down to the rink in an evening to see the end product of our hard work.
“This year Keith Heslop, CEO, and Lois Barnard, Group Operations Manager, from Sport Aberdeen also kindly attended and it’s great to have their support.
“Synchro sessions take place early morning and late at night so they tend to happen away from the public eye, so it’s nice to have an evening where the kids can show off all their hard work to what turned out to be a pretty big audience.”
“We also had some members performing solo routines. It really was a great showcase of the vast talent our club has produced and a testament to all the hard work they have put in over the year.”
The event comes at the end of a successful season for the club who came home from the Scottish Championships with 4 Scottish titles in pre-juvenile, basic novice, beginner and senior B.
The 5 teams part of the club skated in both the Trophy D’Ecosse in Dumfries and the Steel City Trophy in Sheffield.
Results were as follows:
TROPHY d’Ecosse
- Starz – 2nd
- Lil Starz – 2nd
- Topaz – 3rd
- Zariba – 1st
- Quartz – 5th
Steel City Trophy International
- Starz – 4th
- Lil Starz – 4th
- Topaz – 4th
- Zariba – 2nd
- Quartz – 8th
Images courtesy of RS Photography
Each year, on March 8, the world marks and celebrates International Women’s Day (IWD) to recognise the collective commitment to achieving gender equality.
This year’s theme is to “Inspire Inclusion” which emphasises the importance of diversity and empowerment across all aspects of society.
We spoke to one of our Active Schools Coordinators covering the Northfield Associated Schools Group (ASG) – Stacey Stuart – to hear about her role and how she enjoys trying to increase female participation in sport and physical activity.
Reflecting on her time at school, Stacey said: “I did Higher PE at school, but I was one of only three girls in the class.
“I also did gymnastics and athletics as hobbies and completed coaching qualifications in both sports – by working as a coach, this saved me from having to pay any tuition fees in gymnastics or athletics, so it was a win, win.
“I studied sport and physical activity at the University of Strathclyde and completed an exchange year with Laurentian University in Canada.
“My first post-uni role was working as a sports assistant and lifeguard at Robert Gordon University (RGU) and whilst there, I gained my fitness instructor qualification and started teaching classes.
“I then took a gap year and went travelling to places including Vietnam, Singapore and New Zealand which was lots of fun!
“Once I returned from my travels, I worked for Barnardo’s in a children’s residential unit and started coaching for Active Schools on the side – Graeme Dale was the Active Schools Coordinator I worked for at the time.
“My next stint saw me change direction and work in corporate fitness for a period of time, and then I worked in a few administration roles in the oil and gas industry. It was the right time to leave oil and gas when I had my first child.
“The ‘Looked After Project’ is what I worked on next, now known as the SPACE (Supported Physical Activity for Care Experienced) programme through Sport Aberdeen. Then I went on to have my third child.
“I enjoyed working for the Looked After Project, so I ended up going back to do this and I worked at one of the vulnerable children’s hubs in Manor Park School for a year through Covid. I then got promoted to Active Schools Coordinator and my previous experience made me the one best suited to being based in the Northfield area.
“I have worked for Active Schools now for over five years and it’s great because the schools in my area really buy into it – they really believe that sport is for the greater good.”
Helping to inspire more young girls to get into sport and physical activity…
Stacey stated that participation in sport and physical activity between boys and girls at primary school age is about 50/50, but at Academy age, there is a much higher drop off in female participation.
She said: “I totally notice a shift in attitude. Primary 7 girls will be feisty and competitive and then when they join S1 you see such a drop off. I suppose when you’re younger, you are care free and then in secondary school, you’re trying to fit in and change your social circles.
“There are various ways we try to boost participation from young females at Northfield Academy and some of the ways we do this are through fitness classes and dance classes.
“We also keep gym kit in the classroom so that girls can use this and then once they are old enough, they can progress over to Get active @ Northfield and become Teen Fitness members to use the gym.
“Some of the young people we work with receive free supported memberships.
“We’ve put on girls only sessions in the past and during exam periods, we carried out stress buster sessions and took the girls out for walks so they could reap the benefits of being out in the fresh air and exploring.
“We pretty much try to give them as many opportunities as possible and it helps that a lot of them want to get into sports coaching or studying a sport-related subject at college.
“One of the girls I supported Kerin is now at college studying sports coaching and is an Active Schools Volunteer – she is a finalist in the ‘Young Coach/Young Volunteer of the Year’ category of the Aberdeen Sports Awards 2024 so I’m wishing her loads of luck.”
Stacey’s advice…
“Don’t let any stigma around something put you off, and don’t compare yourself to others – focus on you.
“Everyone has their successes and differences at school, and not everything has to be academic-based. Learn to appreciate why you are different from someone else and allow yourself to embrace it.
“Just because you think someone else is better than you at something, doesn’t mean you can’t do that same sport or activity and enjoy it too. Everyone has a chance and you can still enjoy participating in something without having to be the best.”
International Women’s Day is a global day celebrated on March 8, recognising the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.
At Sport Aberdeen, we want to create an environment that helps to forge a better, more inclusive world for women and collectively celebrate their achievements.
We spoke to our Group Health & Fitness Manager, Evelyn Mair about her journey to date and what inspired her to pursue a career in the fitness industry.
Reflecting on her school days, Evelyn tells us: “I wasn’t into PE or sport when I was at school, I think having to wear little blue pants and a white vest was probably the most off-putting part.
“However, I did do Shotokan Karate through to age 21 – I started karate when I was 8 years old, so I was very active, training 5 days per week, even though PE wasn’t my thing.
“My experience with karate was very positive and inclusive despite it stereotypically being male-dominated back then.”
“I achieved black belt when I was 12 years old (1st dan) and competed for Scotland in both the singles and ladies’ team. I then got my 2nd dan when I was 16 and I still keep in touch with my Sensei now, he is one of my greatest role models and was like a second dad to me.
“At school I always wanted to be a dentist, but I didn’t get the grades I needed for university, so I went on to study dental hygiene and nursing at Edinburgh Telford College for two years.
“I worked as a dental nurse for a couple of years and decided that university wasn’t the right path for me.
“Opting for a different route, I then worked in bar management and the hospitality industry for Caledonian Heritable in Edinburgh. Strangely this was a higher paid industry than one that required me to study for two years; I absolutely loved it and met so many amazing people who helped to influence the person I am today.”
“When I fell pregnant with my first son, the 3am finishes just weren’t practical anymore, so I considered other options.
“My family have always been and still are heavily into sport and fitness, so I leaned into this and completed my Level 2 Gym Instructor course and worked in a small hotel gym in Dunfermline to build my confidence.
“I moved up to Aberdeen in 2003 and worked for Aberdeen Leisure (what was Sport Aberdeen back then) as a gym instructor at the Beach Leisure Centre.
“I then worked at Bannatyne Health Club & Spa in Aberdeen for 15 years as a part-time gym instructor and picked up other qualifications along the way such as Les Mills Body Combat Attack, Pump & Vive, Indoor Cycling, Aqua Aerobics, Kettlebells, as well as my Level 3 Personal Trainer course.
“I became the Fitness Manager in 2005 for four years, and then from 2009 to 2018 I was appointed as General Manager.
“I think working in the fitness industry has made me realise that I am motivated by helping people to become the best version of themselves – seeing people happy in the environment that you create gives you a real buzz.
“In 2018 I started at Sport Aberdeen in the role of Group Operations Manager, I went for this role so I could progress but still stay close to home.
“I really enjoy my role now as Group Health & Fitness Manager at Sport Aberdeen – I started in post in September 2022 and prior to this I worked within the Active Schools division for a year (from April 2021 – April 2022).
We asked Evelyn about her greatest piece of advice for young females…
“Trust yourself, go with your gut, don’t be swayed by the masses. Try new things, get comfortable with being uncomfortable and take risks.”
“It’s so easy to let self-doubt get in the way and talk yourself out of something, but my advice is to be open to trying new things, you never know you might like it or at the very least, you will learn something about yourself.”
“I started CrossFit almost 8 years ago – when I first walked in, I almost walked straight back out. To this day I am still learning, practicing, challenging myself and progressing…
“Don’t ever not walk through the door because you don’t think you can – you absolutely can so have that belief in yourself.”
We are excited to announce alongside North East Active Parkinson’s Group, Parkinson’s UK, Robert Gordon University, and AFC Community Trust a new Walking Football session for those living with Parkinson’s.
The inaugural session took place from 1100 to 1230 at Get active @ Kincorth sports hall on Friday 9 February.
Sessions on the 8th March will still be indoors at Get active @ Kincorth, and the first outdoor session at Adventure Aberdeen Snowsports will be held on the 15th March.
The programme gives a great chance for those with Parkinson’s to stay active which is proven to slow the disease process and help with pain.
Andrinne Craig, Healthy Communities Manager at Sport Aberdeen, said: “We are delighted to be working alongside our partners to bring walking football to a new group of players in Aberdeen.
“Being regularly active is beneficial in helping manage some of the symptoms of Parkinson’s and it’s great to be adding a team sport to our programme which will offer camaraderie and peer support.
“It is our hope that the pilot programme will help break down barriers and ensure everyone in Aberdeen, regardless of their health, can get active and connect with others in the same position as themselves.”
Gary Laing at North East Active Parkinson’s Group, said: “As someone who has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s since 2016 I am aware of the importance of regular exercise, I am keen, along with other members of the North East Active Parkinson’s (NEAP) group, to support these walking football sessions and get as many PWP involved. It’s a great activity to help develop and maintain regular exercise whilst meeting up people in a similar situation.
“NEAP is a local group and with the support of Parkinson’s Scotland whose aim is to encourage People with Parkinson’s to continue with regular exercise sessions and to meet with other People with Parkinson’s.”
Amanda McKay, Physical Activity Delivery Manager for Parkinson’s UK in Scotland, said: “We are delighted to be working with partners to create a walking football programme for people with Parkinson’s in Aberdeen. We are supporting this work through our Physical Activity Grants Programme.
“Physical activity can help people with Parkinson’s live better with some of the symptoms of the condition, improve their wellbeing and lift their mood.
“We encourage anyone interested to come along, get active and become part of a real community of support.”
For participants interested in this incredible class, they should phone 01224 507701 or email activelifestyles@sportaberdeen.co.uk