Groups of sports students at Forth Valley College have been organising activity days for kids across the Falkirk area recently, to help them complete their courses.
Pathways to Fitness, Health and Exercise students held an event for Comley Park Primary School pupils at the school on Friday 19 May from 9am- 3pm. Then on Sunday 28 May, the Woodlands Games Hall in Falkirk, between 1pm-9pm, was the venue for a ‘multisports event’ organised by HND Sports Coaching and Development students, to raise awareness of sectarianism and mental health issues and to make sports more inclusive.
Both events were very well attended and pupils and students alike were able to take a lot from the activities.
Callum Wright (19) from Falkirk helped to organise the Comely Park Primary School event, He, said: “We planned an event to have some physical benefits on mental health. We looked at different types of sports including: athletics, circuit training, dance and parkour/gymnastics. We had a classroom based activity where kids learned more about mental health and how physical health can affect mental health.”
His classmate, Grzegorz Krasa (32) from Broxburn, West Lothian, added: “The event went well as the kids listened to the instructions at each stations and completed the techniques the proper way, so there was no issues or injuries. Even after the stations during their break and lunch they took part in this during their free time. Overall the kids loved the event and learned about how physical activity can improve mental health.”
Jake Drysdale (19) from Sauchie, Alloa, one of the students involved in the Woodlands Games Hall event, said: “Our slogan for the event was ‘Acceptance is the Goal!" and this event was a partnership with the Fair Play Foundation and Falkirk Foundation. The kids also had the opportunity to raise money since it was such a long day. Half of the funds raised will go to the Falkirk Foundation and the other half is going to the Scott Martin Foundation, who are a local charity which aim to raise awareness around mental health in sports.”