High Life Highland is on the look out for new recruits to join its Active Schools team. The charity – working with schools across the Highlands – provides an array of extracurricular activities for children across primary and secondary schools from shinty, football and basketball to kids clubs, racket sports and dance and so much more!
The Active Schools programme relies on the generosity of volunteers who give up some of their time to help support young people across the Highlands be physically active and to excel in sport.
Darren Reid, High Life Highland’s Head of Sports Development explained: “Volunteers are the lifeblood of our Active Schools Programme which aims to get more young people, more active, more often across the Highlands. Our amazing band of volunteers who are supported by our local Active Schools Coordinators allow activity sessions to happen locally. This not only helps enable more young people to be active and gain confidence, skills and friendship through physical activity but potentially could allow a young person to take the first steps to sporting success.
“We want to emphasise that volunteers don’t need to give up much time to make a big impact to their local young people and they will be fully supported by our staff to develop in their volunteering roles and gain training and qualifications where appropriate.
“If anyone is interested in being part of this great team – whether it’s parents, grandparents, older siblings or anyone who just wants to give something back – please get in touch with us.”
Lisa McInnes from Carrbridge volunteers with Active Schools at Carrbridge Primary School. She is also a past recipient of the High Life Highland Volunteer of the Year Award.
She said: “I started volunteering for High Life Highland when the schools football sessions finished and my children were missing them. We got a group of parents together to support each other and ran the football club for a number of years.
“After this we started our own kids club and High Life Highland fully supported us in doing this – which was a massive help and much appreciated. We now run Friday club on a regular basis for many children in Carrbridge.
“It has been an extremely rewarding experience for me, to see the difference we are making to the children, with lots of different ages involved it makes for lots of fun and games. Watching children develop their skills whether it’s in a sport or something crafty is really lovely.”
Merv Riley is an Active Schools volunteer in Nairn and has been involved in delivering football and athletics at Millbank Primary. He said: “There’s lots of satisfaction in watching children of all abilities develop on a sports field. You see them improve and gain confidence. “
I love being part of the Active Schools family – it helps keep me fit. I’m 71 now but not yet ready to hang up my boots. You don’t stop because you get old – you get old because you stop is my motto. Volunteering gives me a real sense of purpose and I have made so many friends. I would encourage anyone to give it a go, you may be surprised at just how much satisfaction you can gain from helping others.”
Keith Pearce from Lochcarron started the local basketball club with support from his Active Schools co-ordinator from scratch, which is going from strength to strength. The club is open to pupils from P4 through to S3.
He said: “Coaching and leading these basketball sessions is really enjoyable. It’s great to be able to connect with my community – young and old in this very positive way. There is something special about sharing the enjoyment of sport with the young people you teach.”
If you want to find out more about volunteering with Active Schools, contact your local co-ordinator or sign up on the High Life Highland website.
