Opening Access to Sport for Aberdeen’s Young People

At Aberdeen Sports Village, we are committed to improving access to sport and physical activity for young people across the city.

Home of Community Sport (HoCS) supports school pupils across Aberdeen by removing the barriers that too often prevent children from taking part in sport.

Delivered in partnership with local schools, the programme provides free access to high-quality facilities, coaching and transport. This ensures pupils can take part regardless of family circumstances or school budgets.

HoCS is supported and funded by Wood, the University of Aberdeen and Aberdeen Sports Village, who share a commitment to improving health, wellbeing and opportunity for young people in the city.

The programme is strengthened by partners who make delivery possible at scale. Premier Coaches provide transport at no cost, helping schools get pupils to and from sessions, while North East Scotland College supports coaching delivery through student placements.

Removing barriers, creating opportunity

Cost pressures can make sport harder to access, particularly for pupils who need extra support to take part.

HoCS tackles this directly by covering:

• Facility access

• Coaching and delivery

• Transport to and from sessions

This creates a safe, supportive environment where pupils can try new activities, build skills and feel more confident being active.

The programme offers a range of opportunities across the school year, including swimming lessons, athletics and racket sports.

Impact in numbers

Across three school years, HoCS has delivered:

• 2,778 children supported

• 14,369 participations across sport sessions

• £40,208 total investment

• Average £2.80 per child per week

This is a modest weekly investment creating real and lasting benefits for pupils.

Schools currently taking part

This school year, Home of Community Sport is supporting pupils from:

• Riverbank Primary School

• St Peter’s Roman Catholic Primary School

• Cornhill Primary School

• Hannover Street School

• St Machar Academy

These schools represent communities where improved access to sport can make a meaningful difference to confidence, wellbeing and engagement.

Learn to Swim: a life skill at the heart of HoCS

Learn to Swim is one of the strongest parts of the programme.

Through free, structured lessons at ASV, pupils develop confidence in the water, learn core swimming skills and understand safe behaviour in and around pools.

Across three school years:

• 827 children received free swimming lessons

• 5,172 swimming sessions delivered

• Six schools involved

• Lessons delivered in five- to eight-week blocks

• £12,411.80 invested

• Average £2.40 per child per week

For many pupils, these sessions are their first experience of a swimming pool, helping shape positive attitudes to swimming that last beyond the programme.

Building confidence, wellbeing and positive habits

Schools regularly highlight wider benefits, including:

• Improved confidence and self-belief

• Stronger physical skills and resilience

• Greater motivation to stay active

• More positive attitudes towards sport

These outcomes support long-term wellbeing, not just short-term participation.

Why continued support matters

Demand from schools continues to grow.

Ongoing funding helps us:

• Reach more pupils across Aberdeen

• Maintain free access during financial pressures

• Expand activity opportunities

• Sustain key elements such as Learn to Swim

Home of Community Sport shows what collaboration can achieve. With shared purpose and continued support, more young people can benefit from access to sport, skills and positive experiences.