Police Scotland’s North-east Division and award-winning charity Sport Aberdeen have teamed up with local organisations to host an event aimed at encouraging more young people to make the most of opportunities available to them throughout the city.
The initiative will focus on mitigating anti-social behaviour among young people by encouraging them to take part in local youth clubs, activities and participate in sport and adventurous activity.
The Police and Partners Youth Event will take place at Adventure Aberdeen Snowsports Centre in Garthdee on Saturday, September 18 and run from 18:00pm – 21:00pm.
Participants will have the opportunity to engage with local organisations and sign up to clubs and activities whilst taking part in free interactive stations including Transition Extreme’s climbing wall. ASDA and Sainsburys will provide refreshments free of charge for participants.
Adventure Aberdeen, part of Sport Aberdeen, operates the city’s only dry ski slope and will be offering free ski, snowboard and tubing taster sessions for up to 100 participants on a first come first served basis. Participants are encouraged to wear suitable clothing and bring gloves if they intend on taking part in the dry slope activities on offer.
North-east Division officers will be manning the event alongside a number of other local organisations including:
- Sport Aberdeen
- Aberdeen Boat Club
- Girl Guides
- Aberdeen City Council youth work team
- Transition Extreme
- Boys Brigade
- Sea Cadets
- Capoeira club (Brazilian martial arts)
- Street Sports
- Goals
- Army Cadets
- Armed Forces recruitment office
- Police Youth Volunteers
PC Gavin Haigh, from Nigg Community Policing Team, said: "This is a great opportunity for the local community, clubs and businesses to come together for an informal evening. Everyone is welcome along to find out more about any of the clubs or representatives at the event. We hope to showcase some of the rewarding activities that young people can become involved with, rather than engaging in antisocial behaviour.
“I am encouraged to see so many local groups wanting to take part and thank them all for their involvement and support."
Graeme Dale, Sport Aberdeen head of sport and active communities, said: “This is a great example of local partners coming together to encourage more young people to make the most of the abundance of sporting and other opportunities the city has to offer.
“We are delighted to be hosting the event at our Adventure Aberdeen Snowsports Centre and hope that our ski, snowboard and tubing taster sessions might inspire more young people to take up these exciting outdoor sports.
“Sport Aberdeen offers physical activity opportunities for everyone regardless of age or ability from the age of four upwards and our Active Starts and Active Futures memberships give young people access to swim, golf and tennis in the heart of Aberdeen. We really believe that participation in sport has the power to positively change young people’s lives.”