Children and young people go into care through no fault of their own. The impact of care experience is lifelong, and this can also impact on the opportunities they have within sport.
Through the Active4Me programme, West Lothian Council are trying to alleviate the challenges care experienced young people face by engaging them within sport.
The programme is focused primarily within the Craigshill area of Livingston where there are around 55 known care experienced young people that go to Riverside Primary School, Letham Primary or Inveralmond Community High School, many of which not currently involved within community sport.
The Active4Me programme will support some of these young people aged 12-18 to try new sports and integrate them into the club environment and create lifelong enjoyment in sport, all while improving their confidence.
This year, the programme will work in partnership with three community sport clubs from around the Craigshill area - Grand Master Sutherland’s Martial Arts, Jidel Judo and West Lothian Gymnastics Club.
The clubs and the young people are being supported with funding to help with costs associated with membership, equipment, clothing and travel. This funding is part of sportscotland’s additional investment provided to targeted local authorities to strengthen partner networks and support identified inclusion related outcomes.
The Active Schools & Community Sport team will also maintain regular contact with the young people and their carers to enable smooth transition into the club environment.
Active Schools will also be providing direct support to the young participants to build their confidence and knowledge to give them the best chance of transitioning to regular attendance at their club of choice.
Part of the programme will involve the delivery of training to the club coaches and volunteers through Who Cares? Scotland and Scottish Sport Futures, to allow them to better understand and support those within the care system.
Raymond Kaczmarek from Grand Master Sutherland’s Martial Arts said of the programme: “The club are delighted to be working in partnership with West Lothian Council to provide more opportunities for children and young people from a care experienced background within the club.
"We already have some members from a care experienced background that are doing really well and have benefited hugely from being part of the club.
"We are excited about the training opportunities being made available to our coaches and volunteers that will help us to support all of our members to achieve their goals whatever those may be.”
Demi Mitchell, Active Schools Coordinator with West Lothian Council, said: “Developing the Active4Me programme has been great. Being able to create these opportunities for young people and clubs by breaking down as many barriers as possible has been a true passion of mine.
"Sport has the power to create long lasting friendships and bring together people within a community which is truly what we hope for with this programme while creating confident, happy and active individuals.”
A participant who has previously benefitted from the programme said: “You learn new stuff and it makes you feel much better about yourself, it’s enjoyable and really good.”
Through the support of the Active4Me programme, the participant attended a variety of activities, something they previously would have said no to.
Her foster parent said: “I was struggling to get her into any activity groups to meet her disability needs, and she was really fed up of only having me as a friend.
“She has absolutely loved the programme and your company. I can see a huge difference in her. It’s been great for building her confidence.”
Find out more
- Learning and training opportunities with Who Cares? Scotland
- Learn more about sport within West Lothian Council
- Find out more about corporate parenting at sportscotland
