Sport Aberdeen has received investment from Action for Children to extend a partnership project supporting local families facing challenges in Aberdeen.

Sport Aberdeen and Action for Children, a UK children’s charity committed to helping vulnerable children and young people, joined forces in 2019 to appoint a new Project Activator post within the city, made possible through a grant from the Changing Lives Through Sport and Physical Activity Fund – a partnership between The Robertson Trust, The Scottish Government, sportscotland and Spirit of 2012.  

Following a very successful three-years, the Priority Families Service, which saw the Project Activator embedded into the Priority Families team, has been awarded further investment and Action for Children will facilitate the local post until March 2022.

The additional resource has allowed the project to offer a greater level of support to meet the needs of families and individuals within the city who often have fewer opportunities to engage in sport and physical activity and are frequently affected by negative outcomes leading to health inequalities.

Programme interventions work both on a one to one basis and with the family as a whole. The project uses activities offered by Sport Aberdeen and partnerships within the local sports network, providing a wide range of opportunities that help meet key objectives including enabling vulnerable families in Aberdeen to:

• enjoy better physical and emotional wellbeing;
• better engage in positive and constructive behaviours and choices;
• and have increased confidence and self-esteem.

I am delighted that Action for Children has been able to extend its partnership investment and we are very much looking forward to continuing the work we do, giving everyone access to physical activity, improving physical and mental health.

Graeme Dale

Graeme Dale, Sport Aberdeen Head of Sport and Active Communities, said: “Extending this project not only means that we can support even more families across the city but also highlights the vital role that partnership working plays within the third sector, creating more opportunities to reach the local community.

“The last year has been exceptionally challenging and with this extra lifeline we will look to support the community’s recovery through harnessing the power of sport and bringing about real and positive change to vulnerable families in Aberdeen.”

Paul Carberry, Action for Children Director for Scotland, said: “We are pleased with this award of extended funding. This continued partnership will enable children, young people and their families we support from across Aberdeen City to access varied support through sport. 

“Covid lockdowns have shown how much people value and link their physical and mental health to their general well-being. It is vital in aiding the recovery of individuals and communities that we can continue to offer people that increased engagement with sport and physical activities.

“We are grateful to Sport Aberdeen and the funders for their support and commitment to the children, young people and families we work with in Aberdeen.”