Directory designed to explore sports clubs
A new directory has been produced to provide members of the public with details of local community sports clubs throughout the region and beyond.
The directory, which also features community sports clubs in Angus, has been pulled together by Live Active Leisure’s Active Schools coordinator for Blairgowrie, Caroline Lawrie, in collaboration with her Kirriemuir counterpart, Magnus Moncrieff.
Contact details for clubs involved with everything from football to rugby, tennis to taekwon-do, bowling to boxing hockey to horse riding, curling to cricket and swimming to Highland dancing are included.
Caroline explained: “The purpose of the directory was to work together to connect Angus and Perthshire schools and give parents more information at the click of a button.
“Magnus and myself are lucky to have such supportive clubs within our communities who are willing to support the Active Schools programme and we both felt we wanted to give something back and support the clubs, particularly now with the impact that the Covid restrictions have had on so many of them.
“The directory is a great way to do this as it raises awareness of the huge variety of clubs in the community and the opportunities for an active lifestyle they offer.”
Magnus went on to add: “The directory provides members of the community with a resource that gives them quick access to local community clubs that Active School coordinators have links with.
“As clubs are now returning to activities, giving parents the opportunity to be able to access contact details for these clubs is important and allows their children to join or find out more about the club set-up.
“The electronic version provides quick access to phone and email as well as the websites and social media platforms of the relevant clubs.
“Ultimately we want to see as many children taking part in community sport and be members of clubs that are safe and enjoyable and this is one way of helping direct people to these clubs.
“The flyer was designed by Angus Alive and we would like to say thank you to Sharrie who helped us come up with such an amazing directory that is easy to use.”
Bob Ellis, chair of the Eastern Perthshire Community Sports Hub, welcomed the news.
He said: “The Sport and Physical Activity Directory, which covers Blairgowrie and our neighbours Kirriemuir and all of the surrounding areas, is a very valuable piece of work.
“I have to thank Caroline who has gone the extra mile in many ways in putting the Eastern Perthshire Community Sports Hub area on the map.
“Many of our clubs are included in the directory but we are aware that there are others that we still need to try to communicate with and encourage them to get involved.
“The Hub organises projects such as the popular ‘Fit, Fun, Families’ initiative and the ‘Come and Try a Sport’ days, both of which we are working on setting up again as Covid restrictions ease.
“In 2014 we organised a mini Commonwealth Games event for primary schools in the area and this year we are holding a Mini Olympic Games event on September 1.
“We also hold fitness sessions for teenagers and pupils in primary six and seven on Mondays between 4pm and 5pm at Blairgowrie Tennis Club with fitness instructor Shari Sidley.
“There is lots going on and we are always keen to hear from other local community groups and organisations who would like to get involved with the sports hub.”
The online version of the directory can be found on the website www.angus.gov. uk.
Meanwhile, the Eastern Perthshire Community Sports Hub continues to meet once a month.
The next meeting takes place online on Tuesday, June 22, at 6pm and is open to everyone involved in a sporting organisation or club in the east Perthshire area.
For a link to attend, send an email to easternperthshirecsh@gmail.com.