Residents in Falkirk have benefitted from a recent pilot community-driven initiative offering zumba, bowling, soft archery, indoor kurling and employability training.
In partnership with RISE Forth Valley, Braes Community Sport Hub, Bailliefields Community Hub and Falkirk Council worked with local female participants who due to cultural reasons, are unable to attend mainstream physical activity sessions with other users.
A plan was developed to deliver a dedicated programme of activities in a private and supportive setting for members.
Hosted at Bailliefields Community Hub, the pilot phase ran over four weeks, offering two sessions per week. Each session included lunch, plus additional opportunities for social connection and informal conversation among participants.
Stephen Sutton, Trustee, Bailliefields Community Hub said:
"We were delighted to host the event as it very much fits in with our charitable purpose of equality, diversity and inclusion and removing barriers. We were able to provide modern facilities and when the original zumba classes fell through we were able to provide a mixture of activities via one of our female volunteers to ensure the participants were kept active. We have spent the last six years fundraising for the facilities, including money from sportscotland's facilities fund, to primarily bring new services, offerings and activities to the Braes area of Falkirk and this was a perfect example of what we built the facilities for."
Braes CSH is part of the national sportscotland Community Sport Hub network that is funded by The National Lottery and brings sports clubs and community organisations together to improve the contribution sport and physical activity has within communities across Scotland.
Bringing people together
At the heart of the project is a commitment to empowering communities by working together to strengthen, grow and sustain positive change.
The sessions focused on building skills, confidence, and provided resources as a means of tackling social isolation and promoting integration through sport, as well as active citizenship.
Martin Wylie, CSH Officer for Falkirk Council said:
“This project has brought together local partners who had a shared desire to understand and meet the need of the community around them, which is a key focus for our community sport hubs in Falkirk. Through collaboration we have been able to get this project off the ground and help make a positive impact for those involved.”
The collaboration between partners has built a stronger network that will allow community sport and wellbeing projects to continue in the future.
Employability and training
In discussion with group members, a programme in partnership with Community Sport Hub Officer, Martin Wylie was designed that enabled participants to try different activities including zumba and kurling, and incorporated money advice, certificated First Aid Training, and personal development.
The Health and Wellbeing programme was delivered in response to a need identified by a group of parents involved with Rise Forth Valley. The group were interested in becoming more active, as well as having the opportunity to gain skills and confidence.
Karen Eskdale, Principal Officer, Learning & Employability for Falkirk Council said:
“There was great positive feedback from participants, with some going on to form a walking group after the course finished, and several embarking on an employability journey with the Employment and Training Unit”.
Safia Ali, CEO of Rise Forth Valley said, "The women who attended were especially drawn to the physical activity sessions, which many had never experienced before."
"Taking part made them feel fitter, healthier, and more confident. Completing the written learning modules and receiving certificates gave them a real sense of accomplishment, showing them they could achieve something they never thought possible, and inspiring them to want to do even more.”
About RISE Forth Valley
RISE Forth Valley is dedicated to promoting racial inclusion and empowering racialised communities in the Forth Valley region. They bring people together across Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire to celebrate diversity, share experiences, and build stronger, more connected communities.
Their mission is to create a more equitable and inclusive society by addressing systemic barriers, fostering a cross-cultural understanding and amplifying the voice of those who have historically been marginalised.
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