Since 2010 Active Schools Aberdeen, run by registered charity Sport Aberdeen has recorded more than one million participant sessions in extra-curricular school sport.

Matthew Dalgarno, a pupil at Northfield Academy, clinched the title of completing the one millionth session – an accolade the sporty teenager said he was proud to achieve. The 13-year-old takes part in almost every sport on offer in the extra-curricular programme and has recently started volunteering for Active Schools Aberdeen in his spare time.

Participation levels have increased by an impressive 24 per cent compared to last year with 239,1224 visits recorded in Aberdeen during the academic year 2016/17. This figure compares to 85,421 visits reported back in 2010/11, showing a growth of 180% since that time.

Furthermore, in the last year the number of people delivering these sessions also increased to 663, which is an increase of 7% per cent, with 92% of these being volunteers. Aberdeen has also seen a 35% increase in the number of links between local clubs and schools and 98 local sports clubs involved.

Registered charity Sport Aberdeen which delivers the Active Schools programme in partnership with sportscotland across Aberdeen, has been delivering opportunities for school pupils to get involved in sport and physical activity for more than a decade.

Colin Taylor, Sport Aberdeen chairman, said:

“These highly impressive numbers are extremely encouraging and it is reassuring to know that young people within Aberdeen are exposed to the best possible opportunities to participate in sport, starting from a young age.

“These results have been achieved through a true team effort and I’d like to thank everyone who has been involved for their commitment to delivering all these opportunities. This includes the fantastic PE teachers, teachers and school staff, who do so much above and beyond what they are asked, parents, students, senior pupils, sports clubs and the Active Schools Team. This is a clear and promising reminder of the positive outcomes that can be achieved through partnership working.

“Sport Aberdeen is committed to creating opportunities and inspiring people to take part in sport and physical activity and reaching this milestone is a perfect example of our abilities to do this while working with partners.”

Stewart Harris, Chief Executive of sportscotland, added:

“It is great to see that our partnerships with local authorities and leisure trusts, schools, clubs, Active Schools Managers and Coordinators, is having such a profoundly positive impact in the growth of Active Schools.

“Investment from the Scottish Government and National Lottery continues to allow us to develop a world-class sporting system for all with better and more opportunities for people to participate and progress in sport and physical activity while fashioning ever closer links between schools and clubs.

“This collaboration is helping to ensure that young people in Scotland have the best sporting opportunities and experiences available and can continue to develop and progress throughout adulthood.”