News / School sport and physical activity numbers up
THERE has been a large rise in local participation over the last five years in a national programme designed to give schoolchildren better sports and activity opportunities.
Active Schools is a Sportscotland scheme which aims to provide more and higher quality opportunities for schoolchildren to participate in sport, and to recruit volunteers to deliver more activity sessions.
Over the last five years there has been a 168 per cent increase in the number of sessions on the isles, while a total of 47,685 visits were recorded during the 2016/17 academic year.
And over half of the school population in Shetland is now involved in Active Schools supported activity.
The number of people delivering sport and activity sessions has more than doubled in five years to 266 – with most of them volunteers – and links between local clubs and schools has also increased.
Chairman of Shetland Islands Council’s education and families committee said the Active Schools programme has become an “integral part of sport and physical activity in Shetland, embedded in school and community life”.
“The growth in participation levels, club links and volunteers demonstrates a real understanding of the importance of getting children and young people active and connected to sport in their community,” he added.
“It also shows the commitment across the isles of teachers, parents, club coaches and secondary pupils as volunteers to create these extra-curricular opportunities before, during and after school.”
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