A Celebration of Sport!
Over 150 children and young people and two very special guests, Kris Boyd and Rose Reilly, enjoyed a Celebration of Sport at Ayrshire College recently.
The celebration event marked the end of Vibrant Communities Get Into Summer sports camps, which were funded by the Scottish Government’s Summer of Play fund, and also Ayrshire College’s wider Connecting Communities project.
Depute Provost Sally Cogley, Councillor Fiona Campbell, Cabinet Member for Lifelong Learning, Education, Skills and Culture and Chief Executive Eddie Fraser joined in the fun. Depute Provost Cogley said: “It was wonderful to join Kris Boyd and Rose Reilly at the Celebration of Sport event at Ayrshire College. Our children and young people had a brilliant time, they were so enthusiastic and we enjoyed hearing about all the fun they had had at the sports camps organised by Vibrant Communities over the summer.”
Councillor Campbell added: “The celebration event highlighted just how many partners contribute to East Ayrshire Council’s, and sportscotland’s, priorities for children and young people, particularly in relation to their health and wellbeing. The sports camps that Vibrant Communities have been running over the school holidays have had a positive impact on our children and young people. Being active helps to keep our bodies and our minds healthy.
“Food also has a really important role to play and Catering Services were on hand providing a delicious and nutritious packed lunch to all the participants, which they have been doing at all our events throughout the summer holidays.”
Ayrshire College's Connecting Communities project, which started as a social media movement to raise awareness of suicide prevention, is a community sports programme that brings a wide range of partners together working collaboratively to help improve mental wellbeing through sport. This is achieved by offering free activities at Ayrshire College including, the Kris Boyd Football Centre, the Rose Reilly Football Centre, Para Football, Basketball, LAC Activities, free fitness sessions for parents while activities take place and free Under 5 provision. Free kit is even provided by Only Sport.
Connecting Communities ensures that no barriers exist to the most vulnerable young people enabling them to access high quality Health and Wellbeing activity, develop a range of positive relationships and work on the key components for good mental health, which are inherent in sport.