New partnership agreement signed with sportscotland

Midlothian Council has signed a new four-year partnership agreement with sportscotland, the national agency for sport, that will see more than £1.45 million invested in supporting our communities to be more active.

Active Schools success

The agreement will enable the council to continue to deliver local sport and physical activity initiatives including the successful Active Schools programme.

More than 3,000 pupils took part

Last year Active Schools ran 382 free, extra-curricular clubs in schools with 3,384 primary and secondary school pupils participating. 

Partnership working

Active Schools also worked with more than 40 local clubs last year in 50 different sports including dance, football, basketball, hockey and judo.

Nationally recognised

More than 2,700 pupils took part in Active Schools events and Active Schools was also invited to share its Fit for Girls project success with Maree Todd, Minister for Public Health, Women’s Health & Sport. Women & Girls in Sport Week.

Supporting girls

The Fit for Girls Project is led by a committee of 10 girls and 2 Active Schools co-ordinators. It delivered workshops involving 80 girls across the authority last year. 

Community Sports Hubs

Among the key actions next year, will be re-establishing and developing Community Sports Hubs. The aim is to increase the number of people participating in sport within local communities by improving access to sport and supporting local sports clubs and other organisations to work together as part of a hub.

Four-year agreement  

Midlothian Council’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for sport and leisure, Councillor Colin Cassidy said: “We are delighted to announce this new four-year agreement with sportscotland.

Changing lives

“This further investment by sportscotland is testament to our joint commitment to creating opportunities, inspiring people and changing lives through sport and physical activity.” 

Shared ambition

Chief executive of sportscotland, Forbes Dunlop, said: “Midlothian Council’s vision over the next four years will continue to develop and improve school and community sporting activities. We share that ambition and our investment will help Midlothian Council to build on and expand the excellent work going on in the Active Schools and Community Sport Hub programmes, with the aim of making sport and physical activity enjoyable and accessible for everyone.”