Sport Aberdeen has been awarded two prestigious industry awards, acknowledging the pioneering work that is carried out by the Granite City leisure trust.
Sporta, the national association of leisure and cultural trusts nationwide, selected two of Sport Aberdeen’s local initiatives to take category top spots at a ceremony in Edinburgh, celebrating the success of all the Scottish finalists shortlisted at the Sporta UK Awards earlier this year.
The Looked After Project received the Sporta Scotland Championing Diversity award after being put forward for the category by an independent panel of judges present at the Sporta UK Awards in May this year, where the programme was a finalist.
The Looked After Project, which is based on partnership working between Sport Aberdeen and Aberdeen City Council’s Education and Social Work departments, aims to provide support for looked after children and young people (CYP) to achieve positive destinations through the use of sport and physical activity.
The project is the first of its kind in Scotland and has worked with over 50 looked after CYP to date, providing bespoke interventions based entirely on their needs and wants.
Move More Aberdeen, a partnership project funded by Macmillan Cancer Support and delivered by Sport Aberdeen, was also highlighted by judges in May and selected to scoop an award at the Sporta Scotland ceremony in November.
Sport Aberdeen’s Move More volunteer Cally Smith took the highly commended award in The Volunteer of the Year Award category. Cally has been integral to the development of the Move More Aberdeen programme and has recently decided to pursue a career in nursing.
The award-winning programme, aimed at supporting people living with and beyond cancer, is the first cancer-specific physical activity programme in the city and offers a person-centred package of activities including walks, gentle movement classes, circuit training and gardening.
Sport Aberdeen was the only Scottish leisure trust recognised as finalist for two awards in the 2017 Sporta Awards, which took place in Sheffield on May 17.
Commenting, Sport Aberdeen managing director Alistair Robertson, said:
“I am extremely proud to see Aberdeen at the forefront of pioneering sport and physical activity initiatives. This is testament to the dedication of all those who work hard to ensure these programmes are a huge success and who are using sport to positively impact so many people’s lives.
“Sport Aberdeen is committed to creating opportunities, inspiring people and changing lives through sport and physical activity and being presented with this top industry accolade affirms that we are on the path to achieving our vision.”