This year, the Active Schools programme is celebrating its 20th year of shaping sport in education. The programme, established to promote physical activity and sports among children and young people, has had a profound impact on individuals over the years. One such individual is Claire, whose 20-year journey with Active Schools has been transformative.
From her early experience as a secondary school student, to becoming a key leader within the programme in South Ayrshire, Claire's experience showcases the power of community sports in shaping lives.
First Experiences with Active Schools
Claire's first experience with Active Schools occurred during her time in secondary school. Having grown up playing tennis and other racquet sports, she later transitioned to volleyball as she entered secondary education. Initially, she remembers her first contact with Active Schools was through the local program's coordinators, who came into her school to introduce pupils to various sports which make up their lunch and after-school sports clubs.
For Claire, who had previously played tennis and badminton at a high level, the Active Schools program offered a refreshing change of pace. It provided her with a more relaxed environment where she did not feel the same pressure to perform, allowing her to engage in sports purely for the joy of it.
This new experience was a welcome opportunity to connect with her fellow pupils and participate in sports for fun rather than competition. Wonderfully, some of those early coordinators who introduced Claire to her first encounters with Active Schools do remain with the team today, now serving as Community Sports Hub officers.
Developing a new leader
Through her regular participation in Active Schools based clubs, Claire became well-acquainted with her local coordinators. Therefore, when it came time for the coordinators to nominate some students who may be interested in their new leadership programme, Claire, then in her fifth year of secondary school, was an obvious choice.
The Leadership Academy, an extension of Active Schools, provided Claire with numerous opportunities to obtain various different experiences and qualifications in leadership roles. Despite leaving school with just two higher qualifications, Claire attributes these experiences with the Leadership Academy for helping to pave the way for her future academic and professional achievements. Reflecting on this period, Claire shared;
“I wasn't particularly academic at school, and it was probably one of those ones where I was really lucky to be given the opportunity to develop in different ways.”
Thanks to her hard work, and the foundation laid by her experiences with Active Schools, Claire went on to earn a degree from the University of Glasgow. Additionally, she obtained her Level 1 and Level 2 tennis coaching qualifications, although she eventually decided that a career in tennis was not her path.
Continued Development
When Claire turned 16, she joined the local council’s bank of coaches, that allowed her to take on paid work within the local authority while also gaining access to other local authorities and schools in different areas. Reflecting on her journey, Claire said;
“I've always wanted to do something in sport, and I have always been passionate about sport and physical activity and how that can support other people.”
In an amusing anecdote from her early career, Claire recalls her first paid job as a casual coach, where she found herself coaching a basketball class for sixth years, despite still being in fifth year herself.
Around this time, Claire’s parents also became involved in volunteering, helping to establish a new tennis center in the Prestwick area. Claire also contributed to this project, continuing to develop her skills and passion for sports. Today, her parents remain actively involved in running the center.
Building a Career in Sport
As Claire continued her studies and embarked on her career, she remained committed to volunteering within the local Active Schools cluster. Her passion for the program was evident even in her academic work, as she chose to focus her dissertation on Active Schools provision across different regional areas.
Following her university studies, Claire worked in the NHS for a couple of years, this role serendipitously reconnected her with former colleagues from South Ayrshire Active Schools through a joint project.
When a job opportunity arose within South Ayrshire Active Schools, it was a natural fit for Claire to officially join the team.
Since then, Claire has continued to develop within the team, starting as a Coordinator before advancing to a Community Sports Hub officer and eventually becoming a team leader.Reflecting on her journey, Claire expressed her gratitude: “Active Schools has given me loads of opportunities over the years, and I feel very fortunate to be sitting in the job that I am sitting in now.”
