Midlothian Active Schools work with local partners and secondary schools to provide many leadership opportunities to Young People in Midlothian.
Midlothian Active Schools work in partnership with PE dept.’s to provide leadership opportunities to give a voice to young people in sport, help shape sport in their schools and create more exciting sport & physical activity opportunities for pupils within their schools and local communities.
Young Ambassadors
Each Midlothian high school has engaged with the Young Ambassador programme with at least 2 YA’s in each school who have been working alongside sports council to promote sport within their schools. The Young Ambassador programme supports young people in sharing their views on sport and ensures they are heard, valued and drive change within their school.
The role of a YA is to promote sport within their school and motivate and inspire others to take part in sport & physical activity. As role models and leaders for other young people, Young Ambassadors can have a pivotal role within their school and wider community.
YA Conference
Midlothian’s Young Ambassador’s experienced their first YA conference which took place at Tynecastle football stadium at the end of September. The event, hosted by SportScotland provided the opportunity to hear from the Young Person’s Sport Panel and Scottish Badminton Olympian, Kirsty Gilmour. As the day went on, the group got to know other YA’s from neighbouring authorities, giving them the opportunity to converse and network.
Following this, YA’s participated in a series of group activities helping them to discuss all ideas around improving, encouraging and promoting sport within their high school and the wider community. They also discussed what makes a positive leader, identifying the key skills in influencing positive change. Simultaneously, YA mentors had discussed plans and ideas which engaged the YA’s in a positive way, ensuring they feel supported throughout their Young Ambassador journey.
This was the group’s first experience in attending the conference and had left feeling inspired in making changes within their school sport environments.
Active Schools Leadership Academy
The leadership academy combines training workshops with a port placement preparing young people for a future career in sport. The purpose of the academy is to help aspiring young people develop leadership experience, achieve their potential and reach positive destinations following secondary school. Training includes sport specific training courses such as; Netball Leaders, Tennis Leaders, Basketball coaching & general coaching related workshops; introduction to coaching, mental health training & first aid.
This year Active Schools are working with 14 pupils from 4 high schools in Midlothian to develop leadership skills & complete their coaching journey this year. We are excited to be working with all of these young leaders who will complete their training by December and will go on to deliver as part of their placement from January onwards.
This placement will create more free activity opportunities for children across Midlothian and will allow ASLA members to gain more practical experience delivering fun sport sessions for all ages and abilities.
Midlothian Young People Networking Day
Midlothian Active Schools hosted a Young People Networking & team building day for the young leaders within Midlothian. 26 young leaders from Dalkeith, St Davids, Penicuik, Beeslack, Lasswade & Newbattle HS attended the event. They had the chance to take part in some fun games and team building exercises allowing them all to make connections and form new friendships with likeminded people.
The networking event also provided an opportunity for the ASLA pupils and YA’s to share ideas and experiences in small groups. They also worked together to develop some plans for the year which they will take back to their schools, PE depts. & Active Schools coordinators to take forward.
We are excited to see what projects the YA’s will be working on this year and how the ASLA group progress as young coaches for Midlothian.
