Leaders In Sport at Inverurie Academy are recognised for achievements
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Inverurie Academy pupils have successfully completed the Leaders In Sport programme.
The students were presented with their certificates by Norman Wright of The Garioch Partnership, the local community group which has provided the participants with their distinctive hooded tops over the past school year.
The Leaders In Sport programme was jointly developed between Active Schools staff in the Inverurie network and the PE department at Inverurie Academy in 2017 and has now seen 25 pupils complete it.
It consists of volunteering at extra-curricular sports and activities at the academy, a number of the primary schools and community sports events.
A further 11 pupils are currently assisting with various activities, with the next intake already being lined up for the new school year and taking advantage of the facilities at Inverurie Community Campus.
This year’s presentation saw S6 pupils Steven Strachan, Kieran Macdonald, Harry Moir, Leoni Hart and Freya Wilson all complete their volunteering journey ahead of leaving the academy after the pending SQA examination period.
Steven’s journey saw him start as a primary school participant in the Active Schools programme and continued at Inverurie Academy where, under the mentorship of the late Kenny Gibb, he progressed to become a talented basketball leader and also had a key role supporting the Transition + and Transition Junior programmes for new S1 and primary 1 pupils respectively.
Combined with his love of football, volunteering at both Colony Park Football Club and his old primary school at Kellands, has meant he has now reached the level where he will be able to secure the 500 hours award from The Saltire Awards.
Active Schools lead coordinator for central Aberdeenshire and Inverurie Academy Malcolm Grant said: “We are now heading into the sixth year of the Leaders In Sport programme and all those who have taken part have ensured that a wide range of activities have taken place, but this group of five in particular were involved in the successful return of sports and activities within the national guidance as we all moved back towards a more normal setting since March 2020.
"Whether our leaders have only just started volunteering or have reached the pinnacle that Steven has, they play a crucial role in ensuring that children from pre-school to S6 have the opportunity to play sport and have fun with friends and other children throughout the school year.”
