When Holyrood Secondary School Young Ambassadors Joseph and Olivia returned from last year’s conference at Hampden, they were eager to hit the ground running.
Quickly setting up a meeting with their mentor Natalie, the pair began brainstorming ideas to get more pupils in their school active.
“Our goal was to reach pupils in our school who we wouldn’t usually see in the PE department or at extra-curricular clubs – those who might not otherwise have the opportunity to participate in sport,” Olivia explained.
Identifying opportunity
With the knowledge that their school had access to 6-week Glasgow Access Cards through the Glasgow Club Access Initiative, the Young Ambassadors came up with the idea of bringing in a personal trainer to deliver sessions to participants within the school to build up their confidence and then use Glasgow Club Gorbals gym in their own time.
The Glasgow Club Access Initiative is a community development programme aimed at encouraging Glasgow residents to become active by utilising Glasgow Club venues. By offering individuals who are currently inactive, a complimentary six-week membership to Glasgow Club, the initiative aims to transition participants into regular users.
“I was also able to apply for Equality, Diversity & Inclusion funding which we initially thought would just cover the personal trainer,” Natalie explained.
“The project then grew arms and legs with the Home Economics department getting on board, offering to deliver healthy alternative fake away lessons as part of the package.”
And with that, the Get Active & Cook Club was born.
Creating an inclusive space
The club targets and engages pupils who may not otherwise have these opportunities and provides them with a space to build up confidence, access sporting facilities and learn culinary skills.
“We’ve got around 15 after-school clubs running at the same time throughout the year, so we know that those who want to participate have that opportunity,” Joseph explained.
“With Get Active & Cook we really wanted to offer something different for those who we wouldn’t usually see attending those sessions”
Joseph and Olivia, along with their mentor Natalie worked closely with the pastoral care team as well as partners FAYRE and MCR Pathways to identify participants.
“The Young Ambassadors work so hard to be inclusive and get as many pupils involved in sport as possible,” Natalie expressed.
“Sometimes, however, it just takes a bit of a nudge from a person who is better known to them such as their pastoral care teacher. Especially when you’re targeting kids who might not have ever stepped foot in the PE department,” she explained.
Bringing ideas to life
Joseph and Olivia are now friendly and familiar faces at the sessions and as a key role of the Young Ambassadors in their school, take responsibility for reminding participants to come along each week.
Participating pupils get access to 4 weeks of personal training sessions and 4 weeks in the home economics department focusing on fakeaway-style meals such as burgers, homemade chips and healthy alternative snacks.
They also get a 6-week Glasgow Club Access Card and are invited to the Glasgow Club Gorbals for a gym induction and personalised 1-2-1 fitness programme. The pupils can then use their cards in their own time to access the gym, swimming pool, and exercise classes.
Natalie and the YAs receive a report on usage of the cards with those using them regularly being awarded a 6-month membership to allow them to continue their fitness and wellbeing journey.
The impact
“The project has been really well received and we see that first-hand in how much the pupils enjoy the sessions,” Olivia said.
“It’s been amazing to be able to reward those who have kept up exercising in their free time too, I think that has worked really well.”
“John the personal trainer is just excellent with the kids,” Natalie added.
“He’s got a great repour and really understands the culture and backgrounds of the young people. It’s been amazing to see so many of them keep going back to the gym in their own time after a bit of guidance from John.”
To the future
With Joseph now finished school after an impressive 6 years as a Young Ambassador at Holyrood Secondary, Olivia, who has just started 6th year, hopes to continue and expand the project into her final year.
“If we are able to secure another round of funding, I’d like to incorporate a buddy system within the project where younger pupils have an older ‘buddy’ within the sessions as an extra layer of support.”
Reflecting on their time as Young Ambassadors, Joseph said:
“Being a Young Ambassador has given me so much confidence throughout my whole time at school.
“I was head boy this past year and the programme has definitely given me a lot of skills that have helped me feel comfortable in that position.”
Olivia said:
“My confidence has also grown massively.
“This year particularly, my experiences through the programme have really opened my eyes to other people’s experiences and how sport can help different people in different ways.
“I think that is really important.”
More info
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The Glasgow Club Access Initiative is a community development programme aimed at encouraging Glasgow residents to become active by utilizing Glasgow Club venues. Created and managed by the Community Sport Team at Glasgow Life Sport, the initiative collaborates with partner organisations to identify and support individuals who are currently inactive. These individuals are offered a complimentary six-week membership.
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Watch this short video showcasing the experience of Get Active & Cook participants at Glasgow Club Gorbals: https://vimeo.com/949592003
