What is Active Schools?
Active Schools is a national programme in partnership with sportscotland with the aim of providing more and higher quality opportunities to take part in sport and physical activity before school, during lunchtime and after school, and to develop effective pathways between schools and sports clubs in the local community.
Our team is passionate about providing for young people across Argyll and Bute. We work closely in partnership with local communities including schools, sports clubs and other community organisations, to support the delivery of extracurricular sport for our young people.
Our goal is to increase the number, and raise the standard of sport and physical activity opportunities which young people are able to take part in.
Meet the Active Schools Team in Your Area
Each of our localities has busy programme throughout the year. You can find out everything you need to know about your local area from your Active Schools Co-ordinator and from their Facebook pages below.
If you would like to contact any of the Active Schools team, please email activeschools@liveargyll.co.uk
Mull & Iona
Marion MacLean
I started in my role as Active Schools Coordinator for Mull & Iona in early 2020 and I love the diversity of my job!
I enjoy working with the local schools to try to improve opportunities in sport and increase enthusiasm amongst local children. My favourite aspects of the job are planning events and gatherings, and the satisfaction that comes from watching the positive impact sport can have on youngsters in general. One of the biggest senses of achievement is watching groups of youngsters you’ve helped train, develop the confidence to run their own sessions!
I enjoy keeping fit myself and have always loved sport and PE since I was in school – my favourite sport is netball, but I will pretty much try my luck at any sport going! Living on Mull I rarely miss an opportunity to get outdoors, and over recent months I have tried kayaking, paddle-boarding, open water swimming and I even managed to climb two Munros! If you live on Mull and are keen on sport in any way, or have any ideas which could improve opportunities in sport on the island please get in touch!
Oban Lorn and The Isles
Gillian Walker
I have been an Active Schools Co-ordinator in Oban, Lorn & Isles area since 2016. I love my job as we get to work with young people of all ages. This allows me to see the benefits that physical activity and leadership training has to offer our young people. Health and wellbeing is an area of focus for us as Active Schools Coordinators and one that needs to have much more prominence in the coming year.
I like to keep fit myself, enjoy the great outdoors that Scotland has to offer and meeting new people which I am lucky to be able to do within my job.
Charlotte Forbes
My passion is to encourage everyone to be active and support them in finding an activity that they look forward to taking part in. I want to ensure our local schools have the opportunity to take part in sport in order to support young people’s learning and development.
In my spare time I tend to be outside cycling, running or hiking. One of my main passions is to encourage more women and girls into cycling which I do through women’s development with my local cycling club. I am keen to try new activities and I enjoy the connections and lifelong friendships you make through hobbies. I want to encourage young people to embrace the outdoors and take part in opportunities available to them as you never know where it might lead you in the future.
Mid Argyll , North Kintyre & Islay
David McAlister
I have worked with active schools since 2019 and loved every second of it! Since I was young I have loved taking part in sports and fitness and this job allows me to create as many opportunities as I can for young people to get involved the same way I did.
Outside of work I play shinty, racket sports and exercise on a regular basis. Thanks to all the sport I did when I was younger it has become part of my life and I benefit from it every day. If not playing sport I can regularly be found coaching in my spare time to help local clubs and community members be active.
Working with active schools lets me work across a large area to support many sporting activities for all ages and abilities!
Follow Active Schools Mid Argyll, North Kintyre and Islay on Facebook
South Kintyre
Lindsay Ramsay
I have been in this role within Argyll & Bute since 2005 and enjoy each day as it comes! I feel lucky to be involved in sport on a daily basis and enjoy working with so many people and community clubs across South Kintyre. Sport has played a pivotal role in my life, through participation and now my day to day routine. Physical activity and health is so important to all of us, and it is great to see children across the community take part in school sport and transition into the community club setting.
In my spare time I like to golf and enjoy the great outdoors that we are so lucky to have on our doorstep!
Cowal
Lindsay Mitchell
I have been part of the Active Schools team for the last 16 years, based in the Cowal Cluster. It is a privilege seeing young people in our community grow through the physical activity and sport they take part in. It’s lovely to welcome those who go on to join our bank of coaching staff and volunteers. Working alongside our school staff and community clubs makes the role varied and rewarding, as does working with families across the cluster.
Sport has always played a large part in our family’s life, particularly outdoor activities and we are fortunate to live in an area where there is so much on offer. You’ll never find me too far away from a shinty pitch or the beach.
Follow Active Schools Cowal on Facebook
Bute
Jane Gillies
I was born and brought up on Bute and have been part of the Active Schools team for 16 years. I really enjoy working with local schools and clubs to provide and promote sporting opportunities for young people in our community. One of my favourite aspects of the job is seeing young people attend clubs as primary school pupils and working with them over the years to encourage and support them to become the next generation of coaches and ambassadors of sport. We have so many committed, motivated volunteers on Bute to work alongside and this makes the job so much more enjoyable!
My real interest in sport began at secondary school; I was enthused by our PE dept. and their willingness to go the extra mile to provide a wide variety of extra-curricular activities and trips to be part of – for which I’m still so grateful. These days I enjoy being in the outdoors, be it walking, cycling or playing golf.
Helensburgh and Lomond
Martin Caldwell
I enjoy the varied role and challenges associated with being a Coordinator, striving to promote Sport and Physical activity opportunities and positively impact the health and well-being of pupils in our schools. The Helensburgh and Lomond area has 13 schools including Hermitage Academy Secondary school, with around 3000 pupils in total.
Having worked with Active Schools for a number of years now successful partnerships have been established with local community sports clubs resulting in strong school to club pathways being established. This along with around 100 volunteers supported by Active Schools has created a network of extra-curricular sport and physical activity and valuable opportunities for young people.
Away from Active Schools I’ve been involved with both youth rugby and football coaching on a voluntary basis for a number of years which keeps me busy most evenings and weekends…. Sport and physical activity has been a big part of my life and I gain satisfaction from being able to provide opportunities for others to participate.
How can I help or get involved?
Volunteers are at the heart of the work in Active Schools. Without their support, the majority of activities would not happen. There are over 800 people, including parents, teachers, support staff, community coaches, senior pupils and young primary leaders, who kindly give up their time to help across a range of sports and activities.
- Are you interested in sport and physical activity?
- Would you like to help make a difference?
- Are you full of enthusiasm and energy?
- Do you enjoy working with young people?
- Would you be willing to participate in local training?
Active Schools will provide on-going guidance and support and in return volunteers will gain a high quality and rewarding volunteer experience.
If you would like to get involved please contact activeschools@liveargyll.co.uk
Bikeability
Bikeability Scotland is the national cycle training programme for school children.
Bikeability Scotland is completely free, delivered by trained instructors, and helps children build the skills and confidence they need to cycle on today’s roads.
Argyll and Bute has two part-time coordinators embedded in the liveArgyll Active Schools Team. Nona and Lyndsay support and develop a team of volunteers who deliver Bikeability through schools across the area.
Contact: BikeabillityMB@liveargyll.co.uk
Nona Thomas
Nona has been working with Active Schools teams in Argyll and Bute to upskill school and community volunteers in the delivery of Bikeability Scotland. As a keen rider, Nona aims to build cycling skills and confidence in young people across Argyll and the Isles.
Earliest memory of cycling?
Sitting on the back of my dad’s bike as we headed out on family cycling adventures.
What would you say to a school thinking about participating in Bikeability Scotland?
What great news, being able to help your young people develop a lifelong skill that will benefit them socially, physically and mentally. What a gift to be able to bestow!
Best Bikeability Scotland moment?
Realising the impact we could have on young people’s lives by offering such valuable training.
Most likely to be heard saying?
Let’s do this!
Lyndsay Mitchell
Lindsay works in partnership with Nona Thomas to support volunteers with the rollout of Bikeability throughout Argyll and Bute. Bikeability aims to offer our young people the opportunities and the motivation to adopt healthy lifestyles for them and their families. Lindsay aims to increase knowledge about Bikeability in the area, provide opportunities to gain skills and confidence on a bike and encourage families to use cycling as a way to explore the extraordinary outdoor spaces we have in Argyll and Bute.
