The Dundee Active Schools team is marking 20 years of transforming children's lives through sport! For two decades, this game-changing programme has been creating positive experiences in sport and physical activity, setting young people on a path to healthier, happier futures. In Dundee, it's delivered by Leisure & Culture Dundee in partnership with Dundee City Council. This milestone is a chance to celebrate the lasting impact of the sportscotland initiative and its vital contribution to national goals in health, education, and the well-being of children and young people.
Active Schools is a flagship sportscotland programme and is available in every school in Dundee. it is a key platform for driving inclusion in sport and physical activity. The work of Active Schools has an impact across the sector and supports key outcomes in the Dundee Physical Activity Strategy.
Data published by Dundee Active Schools Shows increased participation levels across the past academic year (2023/24), with 131,000 visits over 8,000 Active Schools sessions, a rise of 8% on 2022/23. The number of deliverers grew steadily to 744 pre-pandemic, having now recovered to 530 in 2023/24. 82% of these deliverers were volunteers, a figure which highlights the significant importance of volunteers and the amazing role they play in ensuring sport and physical activity can take place.
Scott Urquhart, Head of Leisure, Sport and Physical Activity Services at Leisure & Culture Dundee said:
"We are proud to celebrate 20 years of Active Schools in Dundee, a programme that has had a transformative impact on the lives of our young people. Through our collaboration with Dundee City Council and sportscotland, we've seen first-hand the benefits of regular physical activity in shaping healthier, happier communities. We look forward to continuing our work to ensure that every child in Dundee has the opportunity to engage in sport and physical activity."
Dundee City Council Spokesperson for Culture, Sport & History Councillor Lynne Short said:
“We know there are huge benefits to being more active and having a positive experience of sports from a young age.”
“That’s why it’s important partnerships like this one exist, and it’s great to be celebrating 20 years of it.”
Dundee City Council Children, Families and Communities Convener Councillor Stewart Hunter said:
“The active schools programme has played a crucial role in the past 20 years in improving the health and wellbeing of our young people.”
“Our partnership with Leisure & Culture Dundee and sportscotland provides a great opportunity to celebrate that there have been over 131,000 visits to Active Schools sessions over the past academic year.”
“We work hard across the city to encourage and provide opportunities for our young people to take part in sport and physical activity and this Active Schools partnership has been a driving force behind this ambition. I want to thank the team for their hard work.”
Chief Executive of sportscotland, Forbes Dunlop, said:
“Over the last 20 years, the Active Schools programme has been an integral part of Scotland’s sporting system. For so many young people, it is where their sporting journey begins and has provided opportunities that many may not have had otherwise.
“Over the past few years, we have seen very strong signs of recovery post pandemic, and I am delighted to see the participation and session numbers continue to rise across the country. The national agency for sport will continue to support our partners in all 32 local authorities to ensure that the progress made over the past 12 months continues across this academic year.
Schools work in close partnership with Active Schools Co-ordinators, staff and local club communities to ensure a wide variety of sports clubs are on offer. To find out more about Dundee Active Schools visit www.activeschoolsdundee.org.uk
