Last week, ASV was delighted to welcome more than 100 local children to its free two-day Energisers EXTRA TIME Camps – a partnership initiative designed to remove barriers to sport while creating meaningful learning opportunities for students.

Delivered in collaboration with North East Scotland College and Aberdeen FC Community Trust, the camps offered a safe, welcoming and inclusive space for children to stay active, try something new and make friends during the school holidays.

The response from families was immediate, with 120 spaces booked within just a couple of hours. Across the two days, 108 children enjoyed a varied programme of football, rugby, athletics, netball and basketball. Sessions were led by NESCol Sports Coaching students, giving them valuable hands-on experience in a real coaching environment and the chance to make a genuine difference in their community.

Zack Ellis, External Engagement Coordinator at NESCol, said:

“The Energisers EXTRA TIME Camps were a fantastic opportunity for our Sports Coaching students to apply their skills in a real-world setting while giving back to the local community. Providing a free sports camp removes barriers to participation and ensures more children and families can access positive, inclusive physical activity experiences.”

Claire Garrett from Aberdeen FC Community Trust added:

“We were delighted to work in partnership with Aberdeen Sports Village and North East Scotland College to deliver our first Energisers EXTRA TIME Camp this February. With the support of the Extra Time Fund, awarded by the Scottish FA and the Scottish Government, we were able to expand our reach within the Pittodrie community and provide engaging, high-quality activities for young people during the school holidays. Working closely with ASV and NESCol allowed us to deliver an exciting and inclusive multi-sport programme, while also offering NESCol students valuable mentoring experience alongside AFC Community Trust staff. The two-day camp was a fantastic success, and we are excited about building on this partnership to create more opportunities for young people to participate in the future.”

Alongside the sporting activities, every child received a free, hot and nutritious meal prepared by ASV’s catering team, supported by a nutrition student on placement. This helped ensure the camps supported not only physical activity but also wellbeing, recognising that access to food is an important part of supporting families during the holidays.

ASV Sports Coordinator Liam Kerr added:

“The Energisers EXTRA TIME Camp shows what we can achieve through partnership working. The demand highlighted the real need for accessible support for children and families in our community. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and the camp has strengthened our Energisers programme while giving NESCol students valuable practical experience.”

For the students involved, the camps offered more than just coaching practice – they provided a chance to build confidence, develop new skills and see first-hand the impact of their work.

One Year Two student said:

“It was great working with new children and coaching sports I hadn’t delivered before. Seeing the children learn new skills and grow in confidence was the best part...by the end they were much more confident and keen to try new things. It helped me improve at adapting quickly between different age groups and activities.”

A Year Two student added:

“The sessions were fun, inclusive and engaging. The children were enthusiastic and I didn’t hear a single complaint – everyone really enjoyed themselves.”

A Year One student said:

"I’ve been coaching athletics. The way they’ve adapted and picked things up so quickly has been really impressive, especially how focused they’ve been on each activity. I’m so happy to be part of this and honoured to help offer these opportunities to children. Every time they try something new they’re smiling and enjoying themselves, and I love being part of that.”

The Energisers EXTRA TIME Camps build on the long-standing partnership between Aberdeen Sports Village and NESCol, continuing to open doors for young people to stay active, build confidence and feel part of something positive – while supporting the next generation of sports coaches as they begin their careers.