Jul 062012
 

Scotland’s first ever Disability Sports Hub, launched in the spring at Aberdeen Sports Village, is proving to be a great success with extremely positive feedback from organisers and users. With thanks to Dave Macdermid.

The community initiative, run and organised by Scottish Disability Sport (SDS), Sport Aberdeen and Aberdeen Sports Village, supports sportscotland’s contribution to the Scottish Government’s 2014 legacy plan, in creating exciting and innovative approaches to the development of local sporting clubs across Scotland.

The SDS vision is to lead the development of sport and physical recreation for disabled people in Scotland and contribute to UK and international initiatives.

SDS annually organises national events in bowls, athletics, football, swimming, boccia, wheelchair curling and cross country and association branches organise complementary qualifying events.

Andrinne Craig, Scottish Disability Sport’s Regional Manager in Grampian, commented,

“Although it’s still early days, we have been extremely heartened by the feedback from everyone involved, including participants, parents and coaches. Inclusive athletics sessions have been up and running for several weeks, on Wednesday afternoons, and the numbers attending are encouraging.”

These programmes are geared towards developing new and existing sports and helping athlete members to realise their full potential through sport. SDS has a particular commitment to children and young people and to ensuring that it demonstrates best practice in relation to equality.

The Disability Sports Hub offers people with disabilities, and their families and friends, opportunities to participate in a range of recreational activities, tailored to suit all ages and abilities. It will provide a home for a number of inclusive sports clubs and will be a place where participants can attend, try out and get involved in these activities.

May 032012
 

With thanks to Dave Macdermid.

An Aberdeen swimming pool has been awarded the prestigious European Pool Safety Award (EPSA).  King’s Pavilion Swimming Pool, operated by Aberdeen Sports Village, has been granted the mark by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) in recognition of the exceptional levels of pool safety and operational quality at the facility.

The route to obtaining the award involved self assessments, a thorough review of existing policies and procedures, and a number of mystery visits from an EPSA assessor.

The 18 metre swimming pool is situated at the King’s Pavilion on the University of Aberdeen Campus, just a few minutes walk from Aberdeen Sports Village.

Aberdeen Sports Village Chief Executive, David Beattie, said:

“It is great for the team at King’s Pavilion to have their hard work and positive attitude towards safety acknowledged with this international recognition. We can now benchmark ourselves with other facilities across our industry, while aiming to continually improve what we do.”

The CIMSPA European Pool Safety Award is an initiative which provides a framework for promoting high standards of pool safety in the UK, and recognises good practice. It is a voluntary scheme, open to all swimming pools in the UK, including public pools, hotel pools, health and fitness club pools and holiday park facilities.

The full CIMSPA European Pool Safety Award includes certification to the level of the BSI publicly available specification PAS 65: The management of public swimming pools – general management code of practice.

Aberdeen Sports Village is a partnership between Aberdeen City Council, the University of Aberdeen and sportscotland.