Over 100 primary four pupils have experienced their first ever para-sports festival, hosted by High Life Highland and Alness Academy.
The recent event was an opportunity to try out different disability sports and adaptive physical activity drills with their peers from across the Active Schools cluster, with everyone agreeing it was a really fun way to learn more about para-sports. Active Schools 
Young Leaders were on hand to help deliver the para-sports festival having received training from High Life Highland’s Disability Sport Officer, Fiona Green.
She said: “It was great to see the Sports Leaders running a para-sport event in Alness, hopefully this is something that they will continue to do more of to create more inclusive opportunities in sport locally.
“The Leaders were all fantastic and drew on their own strengths and interests to provide a day full of variety. It was great to see them all grow in confidence during the session. All the participants looked like they had a great time, some trying activities for the first time.”
Karla Angus, Active Schools Coordinator for the Alness Schools Cluster commented: “This was a really fun and well received event, equipping young people with a greater knowledge and understanding regarding inclusive activity. For the Young Leaders, they have gained a lot more confidence to lead adaptive sessions.
“Our primary school pupils took part in eight different activities and it was wonderful to see the enjoyment and indeed sportsmanship throughout the various groups as they played. Such fun hopefully demonstrates the wonderful culture of sport for all and will encourage children – and adults – to take part in sport, no matter their age, stage and ability.
“A big thank you to all those involved in creating such a fun event, to each school for participating and the children for getting involved with great excitement! We look forward to hosting more inclusive events in the near future.”
Kirsty Cooper is an Active Schools volunteer and Mum to Zack, who uses a wheelchair. She said: “What a brilliant day, well thought out and run! The Young Leaders were great in running each station confidently with minimal adult support and all the P4 pupils were able to interact with each activity. If a child was particularly stressed by a certain activity, then he or she was able to move around until they got to one they were able to participate in which meant it was a fully inclusive session for all.
“I found it a great day as did my son. He was able to independently participate in all the sports and all were adaptive to suit his needs with little to no trouble required. He loved that everyone was playing the same sports as he was. Very inclusive, very fun and considering there was so many children, very, very well organised!”
Anyone wanting to know more about getting involved in Active Schools sessions of any sort or volunteering in their local community – to help get more children, more active, more often – can find out more information on the High Life Highland website: Find an Active Schools Co-ordinator – Sport
