Busy start for the new cohort of our ATS Young People’s Forum

Saturday 6th July 2024

Jessica and Katie at the Scottish Clubsport Conference

Cohort Two announced for ATS Young People’s Forum

Cohort Two of the Athletics Trust Scotland Young People’s Forum (ATS YPF) have been up and running for just over seven months and have already been very busy and making an impact.

During their first meeting the group nominated and voted for a joint Chair – many congratulations to Jedidah Ajala and Danny Convery (both Edinburgh AC) on this appointment.

The Forum have also agreed to continue with the following aims:

Mental Health
Retaining Young People in Sport

In addition to this, they will also focus on:

Athlete Health
Inclusion

They have been working on designing surveys based on the aims, and these will be sent out to young members of scottishathletics in due course for completion.

The results from the surveys will help direct their focus and determine what projects the ATS YPF can deliver.

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Event volunteering

Tammy Oshinowo (Aberdeen AAC), Mhairi Ballantyne (Kilmarnock Harriers) and Lidya Woldeselassie (Shettleston Harriers) have all taken up the opportunity to volunteer at recent scottishathletics events.

Back in February, Tammy volunteered at the Regional Sportshall Final held at the Aberdeen Sports Village.

Mhairi then tried her hand at Announcing at the West District Track and Field Championships at Kilmarnock ( many thanks to Kelsey Stewart for teaching Mhairi the ropes).

‘I volunteered to help with Announcing at the West District Championships at my home track in Kilmarnock,’ said Mhairi.

‘I was slightly apprehensive to begin with as I’d never done anything like this before, but my mentor Kelsey walked me through it all and gave me tips.

‘It was such an exciting experience to be a part of such a big event and to still be involved despite being injured and unable to race. I would highly recommend trying Announcing or any kind of volunteering at an event and I am so grateful to the Young People’s Forum for the opportunity.’

Lidya volunteered at the recent U12 SUPERteams in Ayr, helping out behind the scenes with the Assembly Team.

At the same event, Hannah McGeehan, Chloe Emordy and Natalie Sharp volunteered with their own clubs.

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Many of the Forum members took part in the recent Scottish Running week and helped to raise funds to support disadvantaged communities across Scotland through the Athletics Trust Scotland Transforming Lives Grants.

The activities ranged from individually running a 5km, organising a club relay event, coaching sessions for primary school pupils to raking sand pits! Well done to Orla Stewart, Natalie Sharp, Harris Morrison, Abigail Strath, Hannah McGeehan and Mollie Mae Scott.

Katie Sandilands (Fife AC) and Jessica Robson (Law and District AAC) attended the Scottish Clubsport Youth Leadership Conference in Stirling, along with scottishathletics’ Equalities Officer, Francesca Snitjer.

They were invited to share their experiences on the Forum and learn from other organisations about the work they are doing with young people.