sportscotland is hosting ‘Lead to Succeed’ on Saturday 26 November, an event for young people to celebrate 10 years of two of sportscotland’s flagship National Lottery funded programmes for young leaders: the Young Ambassadors (YA) programme and the Young People’s Sport Panel (YPSP).
We caught up with former YA and YPSP member Ian Rae to see how his time as a YA and panel member shaped him as an individual and we found out about the work he is involved in now.
The YA programme is a key element of sportscotland’s contribution to developing young people as leaders in sport. The YPSP provides a national platform for young people, and panel members influence and shape the future of sport in Scotland and raise the profile of sport.
Becoming a YA
Ian became a Young Ambassador in S4. He said:
“I played basketball at school; my PE teacher Stevie Odger got me involved and then I started coaching when I was in S3. I was then selected for the YA programme in S4.”
“I really enjoyed the conference, you hear about what other people are doing, and how to implement ideas in your school.”
“I applied for the UK-wide Young Ambassador steering group led by Youth Sport Trust and ended up being the Scottish elect for that for two years. I went to London and heard about Young Ambassador programmes across the UK and shared what Scotland were doing.”
Joining the panel
Ian joined the YPSP in 2014. He said:
“When I was 16, at the end of S4, I applied to be on the YPSP for the first time. I wasn’t successful but even going to the interview was great and getting to listen to what other people did.”
“For two years, I did more coaching and volunteering, and got more involved with the council in South Lanarkshire. Then the panel came up again in 2014 and I was successful the second time.”
Projects and opportunities
The YA programme and YPSP opens doors for members to get involved in a range of projects and opportunities. Ian mentioned:
“Getting involved in the School Sport Awards during my time on the panel is one that stands out. I enjoyed visiting other schools, particularly as I wanted to be a PE teacher. I had an input into what went into that award, things that were important to me as a young person.”
“I also gained a lot of my basketball coaching badges through the YA programme and volunteering, and that helped me to go to university to do PE teaching.”
“I became a Glasgow Commonwealth Games volunteer through the YA programme and I was nominated through my YA work to do the baton relay which was really exciting.”
“I ended up chapping my Active School Coordinator Fiona Kennedy’s door every other day. She pushed me to go for stuff including becoming a YA mentor for the whole council which I wasn’t going to apply for!”
Where are you now?
Ian is a PE teacher and has been qualified since 2018.
“I did my probation year in Stonelaw High in South Lanarkshire, and I was fortunate to be kept on and it is now my fifth year here.”
“I take the basketball teams, we didn’t have one when I started, and we now have up to 75 young people playing every week. I am also a Caledonia Gladiators youth basketball coach.”
“I also started the South Lanarkshire Basketball Schools league this year. When I was at school, we rarely played other South Lanarkshire schools, so this was to encourage more of them to start playing competitive basketball. This year we have nine schools participating, and we are hoping for even more next year.”
“My time as a YA made me realise how much I loved coaching so I tried to get as many opportunities as I could. It all started from there really. Even applying for PE teaching started as a result of taking the basketball team.”
Developing skills through the YA programme and the YPSP
“I feel quite fearless in the sense that I will put myself forward for things that maybe I previously wouldn’t have. I feel confident in my own ideas now.”
“I am now more conscious of the need to listen to others, and the YA programme and YPSP helped with that. There were people sitting round the table who had done things that were way beyond anything I had done personally. I listened to their ideas and appreciated and respected their views.”
“The first time I got knocked back from the panel was the first time I had ever been rejected from something like that. I felt at the time that life isn’t perfect, and you aren’t going to get everything first time.”
“I remember thinking it’s not because I’m not good enough, it’s because people that year were better, and maybe had more experience. I now feel confident when I am going for things and I can justify why I think I should get that position, but if I get rejected from things, I think ok what can I do better next time? Being 16 and getting knocked back from the panel has instilled that mindset in me, you’ve got to keep pushing.”
Advice to young leaders
“Say yes to as many opportunities as you can. Opportunities come at you thick and fast when you are younger, and you’ve got to balance school, coaching, participating, but saying yes to all these opportunities will better prepare you for life as an adult. Being an adult is hard, you’ve got so many people to please and hoops to jump through and plates to spin, but if you are already used to doing that as a young person, it better prepares you for adult life.”
