Netball stars steal show at academy opening

SPORT: Youth set to benefit from superb facilities at £6.5m complex

A multi-million-pound sports academy which is expected to become a springboard for generations of professional athletes has been formally opened by Deputy First Minister John Swinney with help from some fledgling netball stars.

The new complex at Perth College offers students a variety of training rooms with top-of-the-range equipment, as well as a gym hall the size of six badminton courts.

The £6.5 million Academy of Sport and Wellbeing was designed with input from a range of sports’ national governing bodies.

College bosses hope to harness the legacy of last year’s Olympics and attract Scottish teams preparing for Tokyo 2020.

There has already been interest from several national organisations hoping to use the centre for training.

At yesterday’s official launch, staff, students and dignitaries were entertained by the college’s nursery children who demonstrated their baby netball skills.

Mr Swinney said: “I want every young person to reach their full potential and colleges have a crucial role to play in helping young people prepare for the world of work.

“The fantastic facilities on offer here will offer a range of learning and training opportunities that will help improve young people’s life chances.”

Principal Margaret Munckton said the launch ceremony was “an important landmark” for the college, which is part of the University of the Highlands and Islands.

“We are fully committed to providing our students with the best possible experience,” she said. “The academy offers a range of opportunities, not only for sport, fitness, hair, beauty and wellbeing students who are based here, but also for cross college and wider curriculum use.

“We will work on multi-discipline developments of aspects of applied health to ensure that our students and external partners are jointly supporting key economic and social needs.

“The new centre will ensure that our students are fully prepared for whatever their futures may hold, having benefited from these fantastic facilities.”

She added: “As well as enhancing our students’ employment prospects and enhancing knowledge exchange, this new facility will contribute to the overall health and wellbeing of our student and staff community with gym membership and wellbeing treatments and clinics available.

“Our Academy of Sport and Wellbeing helps place Perth firmly on the map as a university city.”

As well as sports facilities, the centre boasts Scotland’s newest indoor climbing centre and has teaching rooms for hair and beauty therapy students.

The fantastic facilities on offer here will offer a range of learning and training opportunities...

Top: Perth College and Goodlyburn Primary School children enjoy some balloon fun. Above: Education Secretary John Swinney and academy principal Margaret Munckton watch some climbers in action.