Award-winning charity Sport Aberdeen has said it is “extremely proud” of its staff for their commitment to supporting the local community throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

The local leisure trust, which operates over 30 citywide venues, has seen more than 35 furloughed employees take on volunteer or secondment roles, supporting partner agencies, since the lockdown restrictions forced venues to close last March.

Sport Aberdeen employees have turned their hand to several different roles in positions supporting the NHS, Aberdeen City Council, Grampian Assessor & Electoral Registration and Aberdeen Health & Social Care Partnership. These roles include; Contact Trace Practitioners, Logistics Coordinators, Call Handlers, Refuse Loaders and Temporary Electoral Registration Assistants. This support is vital to these organisations and has been very gratefully received.

Nickie Scorgie, Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development, said:

“This last year has been extremely challenging for Sport Aberdeen and so many charities and businesses, despite this I am extremely proud of our team for stepping up and helping local organisations.  So many have been willing to come forward and assist our partners.”

Aimee Beatie, a Sport Aberdeen employee, said:

“During the first national lockdown I was supporting the child services team within Mile-End Primary School. It was really great to get out and support my local community in such uncertain times and it was very positive for my mental health, giving me purpose during the first lockdown.”

“Thank you for being here with us. We’ve had so much fun with [Active Schools], they’ve helped us in the classrooms and played really fun activities outside.”

A young person from Kaimhill Primary School

Sport Aberdeen’s Active Schools team have also been supporting children of key workers and vulnerable children in over 10 schools across the city, delivering physical activity outdoors following the appropriate local and national guidance as well as supporting young people in the classroom.

A number of Active Schools coordinators have been working with targeted young people to support their overall wellbeing, delivering sessions and creating new ways for young people to stay active during the lockdown.

Sport Aberdeen’s SPACE (Supported Physical Activity for Care Experienced) programme Project Activator staff have been delivering one-to-one sessions both in specific schools or within the local community, engaging with those most at risk.

Graeme Dale, Sport Aberdeen Head of Sport and Active Communities, said:

“Allowing and encouraging young people to continue to stay active and improve their mental and physical wellbeing throughout this challenging time has been at the forefront of our efforts.

“The Active Schools workforce have played a key role in helping to keep young people in Aberdeen active by working in schools and hubs throughout the city and we are extremely proud of each and every one of them.”

Read more about how Sport Aberdeen supports the community here.