Sport and Physical Activity

Our Sporting Vision- "Scottish Borders is a place where individuals and communities can get involved in sport and physical activity for enjoyment, health and well-being, and stay involved to reach their full potential."

Scottish Borders Council along with key partners and individuals has written its first strategy for sport and physical activity which will provide a plan and framework to co-ordinate, develop and guide activities in the Borders over the next 5 years (2006-2001). The strategy is a partnership document and draws together the aims of a wide range of agencies and organisations including NHS Borders, Borders Sport & Leisure Trust, Sportscotland, District Sport Councils, Schools, Clubs, National Governing Bodies and many more.

Read a Summary of the Strategy here

Read the full Scottish Borders Strategy for Physical Activity, Sport and Physical education here.

What's new?

New Sporting Web site is launched

A new sports website for the Scottish Borders, www.sportborders.org.uk was officially launched last week (Wednesday 8 October) in Galashiels. Funded by Scottish Borders Council (SBC), the site will now be the main source of information for all areas of sport in the region.

Visitors to the site can access a wide range of information including sports news, photo galleries, holiday programmes, event calendars and active schools information.

In addition, the site offers a quick and free registration process for coaches, leaders and volunteers to become members of the site and gain access to:

details of training courses
regular updates about new coaching posts
various documents, forms and guides
links to other useful websites
advice and guidance
the ability to communicate with other coaches, athletes and volunteers across the Borders.

SBC’s Executive Member of Sport, Culture and Community Education, Councillor Graham Garvie launched the site and explained his enthusiasm for the resource: “We already have a great supply of coaches in the Borders who work all year round to motivate, sustain and develop athletes of all ages and abilities across the Borders. Through this website, we hope that we can build on this and create a database of coaches, leaders and volunteers - so we can specially suggest coach education and development pathways to build upon our great success record here in our region.”

Scottish Borders Athlete Support Programme (ASP)

This programme is funded by Scottish Borders Council and gives athletes and coaches the opportunity to receive a wide range of support services to assist them in reaching their potential in their chosen sport. Services for successful applicants include medical and physiotherapy services, sports psychology support, nutrition advice and enhanced access to training facilities across the region. More information is available and you can also download an application form.

Sporting Sections

Sports Development Unit

The Sports Development Unit works across a broad range of community sporting activities including support to individual athletes, sport clubs, sport councils, volunteers in sport, sport programmes and sport facilities.The Sport Development Unit also supports sport partnerships across the Borders in the development of sport and physical activity. To contact them please call 01896 756274.

Coaching and Performance

Sports Coaches are one of the most important resources available for the development of sport. Quality coaching and coaches are essential to encouraging more people to participate in sport and to achieve high standards of performance. Coaching is the key to ensure that those who participate in sport are given a chance to reach their full potential.

Disability Sport

Aims to create a sustainable infrastructure for disability sport in the Borders. This includes working in partnership with the Borders Disability Sports Group, the Regional Steering Group for Disability Sport in the Borders.

Target Sports

Sports have been identified as significant in regard to local cultural integration and / or infrastructure. Development activity would therefore realise the greatest gain for the level of resources input to the Sport.

Athletics
Badminton
Cricket
Football
Hockey
Rugby
Swimming
Tennis

Active schools and school sport

The fundamental aim of the Active Schools Network is to offer school-aged children the motivation and opportunities to adopt active, healthy lifestyles now and into adulthood. These opportunities are available before, during and after school, as well as in the wider community across the Scottish Borders. There are a total of 16 Active School Co-ordinators working across the region, based in both Primary and Secondary schools.

Outdoor Sport and Education

This is one area in which Scotland has international class facilities. 20% of sport and physical recreation takes place in the countryside, reflecting the number of opportunities to take part in a wide variety of outdoor activities.

Making outdoor sport and physical recreation widely available to all is fundamental to a more healthy and active lifestyle . It is also significant to the rural economy meaning that it is important to protect existing opportunities, as well as develop new ones.

Health

There is considerable evidence of sport contributing to better health, and diverting young people from crime and drug/alcohol abuse. It also brings opportunities for learning new skills, and assists the re-generation of individuals and communities in disadvantaged areas. Sport provides an opportunity for volunteering, and can help re-shape peoples' perception of the neighbourhood.