Get into Summer with Active Schools

More than 800 children and young people throughout Orkney have benefited from free activities as part of the Get into Summer national campaign.

Thanks to the efforts of the Council’s Active Schools team, alongside seasonal staff, a range of free fun “come and try” sports and activities were offered over six weeks during the summer holidays.

The campaign, which was supported by Parent Club, aimed to create opportunities for children and young people impacted by COVID-19 to socialise, play and reconnect during the summer.

A total of 811 children and young people, from P1 through to early secondary stage, took up the opportunity from across Orkney, including Mainland areas such as St Andrews, St Margaret’s Hope, Dounby and Stromness, plus island visits to Shapinsay, Hoy, Stronsay, Sanday and Westray. There were also netball and rugby coaching camps held in Kirkwall, a week of Disability Sports sessions and cycle cross/bikeability sessions for all abilities as part of a Pedal Orkney event.

Michael Swanney, Active Schools Co-ordinator, said: “ It was great to be able to offer a six-week multi-activity programme including sessions at both Mainland and island areas. This along with sports specific camps, supporting our partners in offering taster sessions in a variety of sports during Scottish Disability Week and our very successful Pedal Orkney event, it has been quite a busy period for everyone involved.”

Active Schools worked in partnership with the Community Sports Hub to bring these programmes together and were supported by local clubs such as Netball Orkney, the Orkney Rugby Football Club, Orkney Cycling Club and the Pickaquoy Centre  The Get into Summer programme was one part of a variety of activities which were subsidised thanks to funding from the Scottish Government.

Orkney Islands Council received £68,000 out of the £15 million Scottish Government allocation shared between all Scotland’s councils. A further £5 million was allocated to a coalition of 18 national partners to further strengthen and build on existing summer provision. sportscotland received £1.4 million which was split between all 32 local authorities with Orkney’s allocation being £23,119.

OIC Leisure and Culture Service Manager, Garry Burton, said: “Orkney’s children and young people have experienced significant disruption to all aspects of their lives as a result of the pandemic and the funding Orkney received enabled us to offer a really exciting and inclusive programme providing opportunities for children and young people to socialise, take part in activities and generally just have fun over the summer.

“There’s nothing better for everyone’s wellbeing than getting out and about, getting active, meeting old friends and making new ones.”