Fun and games for all in Perth

and it is our promise to the communities we serve that we’ll make getting active easier for all.

“We were fortunate to have Charlene Tait from Scottish Autism talk to our entire team at the annual staff development day in December 2017, and in the 18 months since then we have built on that learning through partnership work with Graeme Doig, branch co-ordinator at Perth and Kinross Disability Sport.

“The result is an exciting and varied class programme across many Live Active Leisure venues for children with additional support needs, including ‘exclusive use time’ at Perth Leisure Pool.”

Mr Doig said: “Our recent work has included participation sessions and competitive events, together with an education calendar for training sport coaches and volunteers.

“We’re encouraging new skills, and providing an environment for meeting new people therefore helping to address social isolation issues.

“We are excited to continue our relationship with Live Active and rolling out new projects around sessions, events and education in the coming year.”

Supported sessions are now available seven days a week throughout the Perth and Kinross area, with a combination of sports hall, outdoor cycling and pool based activities for participants aged 18 months to 16 years old.

As well as classes, the Live Active sports team has been working with Perth Autism Support (PAS) to deliver training sessions for club coaches throughout Perth and Kinross.

The session was organised following feedback from a disability inclusion workshop last August, when participants requested support around coaching children with nonphysical disabilities such as autism and other learning disabilities.

Fourteen coaches from sporting disciplines including swimming, football, archery, athletics and a fitness instructor, attended the workshop designed to raise awareness when coaching young people with autism.

To find out more about classes and opportunities for children with additional support needs at Live Active Leisure, visit the website liveactive.co.uk/additionalsupport-activities