Abertay University students help boost youth sports uptake in Dundee through Active Schools initiative

Sports science students at Abertay University are driving participation in physical activity among children and young people across Dundee through the Active Schools programme. 

In partnership with local schools, the programme involves students from the University's Department of Health and Wellbeing undertaking placements across Dundee, where they gain practical experience in coaching, leadership, and teamwork. 

These volunteering placements, conducted as part of degree programmes and mandatory for second-year students, involve assisting with extracurricular sports clubs and supporting teachers in delivering physical education lessons.  

The most recent Active Schools report noted that Abertay student volunteers contributed a total of 309 hours of physical activity across the city in a single term, delivering sessions to more than 1000 pupils. Additionally, the group helped establish 28 new sports clubs, offering 13 different activities including swimming, football, hockey, yoga, and badminton. 

Andrea Cameron, Dean of the Faculty of Social and Applied Sciences, said:   

Our participation in the Active Schools programme provides vital practical experience for our students, helping them develop skills that are highly valued in their future careers. It also creates networking opportunities that can lead to employment, particularly for those pursuing careers in teaching and sport development.   By supporting efforts to remove barriers to participation, the programme helps ensure that all children have access to engaging, inclusive sports activities, contributing to the development of healthier, more vibrant communities across Dundee.

Active Schools Dundee is an initiative led by sportscotland that aims to create inclusive opportunities for children and young people. Introduced in Scotland 20 years ago, the programme supports local schools by offering a range of sports activities—many free of charge—to promote health, confidence, and wellbeing among young people. 

Since partnering with Active Schools Dundee in 2007, Abertay has seen over 1500 students participate in placements across schools in Dundee with a particular focus on delivering sessions in disadvantaged areas of the city. 

Many students enjoy their experience of delivering the activity sessions so much that some continue volunteering even after completing their placement modules. Several have gone on to become Active Schools coordinators in Dundee and many of Scotland’s local authorities following graduation. 

Jillian Walker, Senior Active Schools Dundee Coordinator and Abertay graduate, said: 

Our partnership with Abertay is hugely valued, not only for the increased sport and physical activity opportunities it creates for young people facing barriers to participation, but also for the chance to work with so many enthusiastic and talented students. Supporting and upskilling the next generation of the workforce is something we’re genuinely excited about, and their involvement has a real, lasting impact in our schools and communities.

Many students find their experience delivering activity sessions so rewarding that they choose to continue volunteering even after completing their placement modules.

One such student is Eve Imrie, a second-year Sports Development and Coaching student, who continues to run a weekly netball session for girls at Blackness Primary School every Wednesday, even after finishing her module. 

Eve said: 

Volunteering is incredibly important because, when I was at school, there were limited opportunities for extracurricular activities, especially for young girls interested in sports. By volunteering and running these netball sessions, I hope to inspire more girls to get involved in sport, build their confidence, and develop new skills. It’s rewarding to see their enthusiasm and progress, and I truly believe these opportunities can make a positive difference in their lives. 

Several Abertay students have gone on to become Active Schools coordinators in Dundee and many other parts of Scotland following graduation.

Children, Families and Communities Convener, Councillor Stewart Hunter, said:  

We know there are huge benefits to being more active and having a positive experience with sport from a young age. That’s why partnerships like this are so important. It’s great to see that over 1,000 young people in the city benefited from this partnership in a single term. As a city, we want to ensure there are no barriers preventing our people from becoming active, and it’s great to see successful projects like this helping break some of those barriers down. I would like to thank everyone involved in this partnership for their dedication, time and drive to make this such a success.