One of Dundee’s top school sports facilities regularly sits idle due to lack of funds and volunteer manpower, it has emerged.
Grove Academy’s impressive 25-metre swimming pool is one of the best amenities available to pupils in the city.
Its use for after-school clubs and training is being curtailed, however, by a lack of regular lifeguard provision.
That issue is one of a number hampering Active Schools as its coordinators attempt to take another leap forward in helping city youngsters into extra-curricular sport.
Others include a lack of qualified drivers to take pupils to events and competitions and a dearth of parents and lesson-providers to take part in after-school clubs and activities.
Such issues do not detract from a positive overall picture of participation in after-school sports and clubs, with the number of individual children and young people participating increasingly slightly from 7,278 in 2012/13 to 7,307 in 2014.
That figure equates to more than 42% of the current Dundee school roll taking part in regular extra-curricular activities, with an impressive 56% of primary school pupils taking part regularly.
New Active Schools manager James Fenna knows there is need for further progress, as participation drops at secondary level, and he said more needed to be done to ensure schools such as Grove Academy can get the best out of their amenities and do the best for their pupils.
“Grove needs volunteer lifeguards to enable pupils to do more swimming, but unfortunately the courses to gain this qualification are quite expensive and there can also be a shortage of swimming teachers too,” he said.
“We are looking at what steps we can take to address this and hopefully ensure that the pool is better used in the future.
“We also urgently need parent volunteers to help deliver after-school sports clubs across the city and drivers able to transport pupils to and from events.”
Mr Fenna nonetheless described the 2013/14 as a “good news story” for Active Schools.
He praised the dedicated volunteers who give up their time free of charge to provide lessons and support, including an increasing number of students from Abertay and Dundee and Angus College.
The Young Ambassador programme, which sees older pupils taking on the role of inspiring younger pupils, has also continued to grow.
And there have been small improvements in the number of female pupils taking part in extra-curricular sports though this remains an area for improvement.
In addition, there is significant participation in out-of-school clubs with Grove Menzieshill Hockey Club just one example of a club that is an increasingly vibrant part of its community.
NEED FOR VOLUNTEERS
Active Schools manager James Fenna believes parents could hold the key to improving pupil participation in after-school sports.
He is appealing to mums and dads across the city to become more involved by volunteering to support extra-curricular clubs and activities.
Mr Fenna said: “Parents always want us to do more but many are simply not prepared to take on roles themselves.
“This has been a weak link in what we are trying to do.
“We want Dundee’s young people to be fit, to become fit adults and to then raise fit children.
“It is a generational thing and it will not happen overnight but we are trying to lay the groundwork for that now.
“Without our volunteer teachers, senior pupils, students and parents we would not be able to run the clubs and activities we do.
“Undoubtedly parents have the biggest role to play in encouraging young people to be active and in this area they must be pro-active.”
Parents who may be interested in helping out at their school can visit activeschools.ea.dundeecity.sch.uk for information.
COUNCIL ASKED TO SUPPORT PARENTS
Ferry councillor Laurie Bidwell said he had requested more financial help from Dundee City Council to subsidise the costs of training for parents willing to undertake lifeguard training and exams.
“There is scope for more after school swimming clubs at Grove Academy in the hour or so after the end of the school day,” he said.
“The main factor holding this back is a lack of volunteer qualified lifeguards to supervise the sessions.
“To gain this qualification requires a significant commitment to undertake the training and pass the lifeguard tests as well as a commitment to re-register every two years.
“I hope members of the public will come forward who are interested in undertaking a lifeguard qualification.
“I am requesting more financial help from the council to contribute towards the fees for those folk taking the lifeguard training and exams.”
Mr Bidwell congratulated Active Schools staff on the “impressive breadth of the activities it coordinates”. He also praised the support from teachers, volunteer leaders, senior pupils and parents.