Mull & Iona

Marion MacLean

I started in my role as Active Schools Coordinator for Mull & Iona in early 2020 and I love the diversity of my job!

I enjoy working with the local schools to try to improve opportunities in sport and increase enthusiasm amongst local children. My favourite aspects of the job are planning events and gatherings, and the satisfaction that comes from watching the positive impact sport can have on youngsters in general.  One of the biggest senses of achievement is watching groups of youngsters you’ve helped train, develop the confidence to run their own sessions!

I enjoy keeping fit myself and have always loved sport and PE since I was in school – my favourite sport is netball, but I will pretty much try my luck at any sport going! Living on Mull I rarely miss an opportunity to get outdoors, and over recent months I have tried kayaking, paddle-boarding, open water swimming and I even managed to climb two Munros! If you live on Mull and are keen on sport in any way, or have any ideas which could improve opportunities in sport on the island please get in touch!

Oban Lorn and The Isles

Gillian Walker

I have been an Active Schools Co-ordinator in Oban, Lorn & Isles area since 2016.  I love my job as we get to work with young people of all ages. This allows me to see the benefits that physical activity and leadership training has to offer our young people.  Health and wellbeing is an area of focus for us as Active Schools Coordinators and one that needs to have much more prominence in the coming year.

I like to keep fit myself, enjoy the great outdoors that Scotland has to offer and meeting new people which I am lucky to be able to do within my job.

Oban Lorn and The Isles

Charlotte Forbes

My passion is to encourage everyone to be active and support them in finding an activity that they look forward to taking part in. I want to ensure our local schools have the opportunity to take part in sport in order to support young people’s learning and development.

In my spare time I tend to be outside cycling, running or hiking. One of my main passions is to encourage more women and girls into cycling which I do through women’s development with my local cycling club. I am keen to try new activities and I enjoy the connections and lifelong friendships you make through hobbies. I want to encourage young people to embrace the outdoors and take part in opportunities available to them as you never know where it might lead you in the future.

Mid Argyll , North Kintyre & Islay

David McAlister

I have worked with active schools since 2019 and loved every second of it! Since I was young I have loved taking part in sports and fitness and this job allows me to create as many opportunities as I can for young people to get involved the same way I did.

Outside of work I play shinty, racket sports and exercise on a regular basis. Thanks to all the sport I did when I was younger it has become part of my life and I benefit from it every day. If not playing sport I can regularly be found coaching in my spare time to help local clubs and community members be active.

Working with active schools lets me work across a large area to support many sporting activities for all ages and abilities!

South Kintyre

Lindsay Ramsay

I have been in this role within Argyll & Bute since 2005 and enjoy each day as it comes!  I feel lucky to be involved in sport on a daily basis and enjoy working with so many people and community clubs across South Kintyre.   Sport has played a pivotal role in my life, through participation and now my day to day routine. Physical activity and health is so important to all of us, and it is great to see children across the community take part in school sport and transition into the community club setting.

In my spare time I like to golf and enjoy the great outdoors that we are so lucky to have on our doorstep!

Cowal

Lindsay Mitchell

I have been part of the Active Schools team for the last 16 years, based in the Cowal Cluster. It is a privilege seeing young people in our community grow through the physical activity and sport they take part in. It’s lovely to welcome those who go on to join our bank of coaching staff and volunteers. Working alongside our school staff and community clubs makes the role varied and rewarding, as does working with families across the cluster.

Sport has always played a large part in our family’s life, particularly outdoor activities and we are fortunate to live in an area where there is so much on offer. You’ll never find me too far away from a shinty pitch or the beach.

Cowal

Joanna Finlay

Bute

Jane Gillies

I was born and brought up on Bute and have been part of the Active Schools team for 16 years. I really enjoy working with local schools and clubs to provide and promote sporting opportunities for young people in our community. One of my favourite aspects of the job is seeing young people attend clubs as primary school pupils and working with them over the years to encourage and support them to become the next generation of coaches and ambassadors of sport. We have so many committed, motivated volunteers on Bute to work alongside and this makes the job so much more enjoyable!

My real interest in sport began at secondary school; I was enthused by our PE dept. and their willingness to go the extra mile to provide a wide variety of extra-curricular activities and trips to be part of – for which I’m still so grateful. These days I enjoy being in the outdoors, be it walking, cycling or playing golf.

Helensburgh and Lomond

Martin Caldwell

Active Schools Coordinator Helensburgh and Lomond

I enjoy the varied role and challenges associated with being a Coordinator, striving to promote Sport and Physical activity opportunities and positively impact the health and well-being of pupils in our schools.  The Helensburgh and Lomond area has 13 schools including Hermitage Academy Secondary school, with around 3000 pupils in total.
Having worked with Active Schools for a number of years now successful partnerships have been established with local community sports clubs resulting in strong school to club pathways being established.  This along with around 100 volunteers supported by Active Schools has created a network of extra-curricular sport and physical activity and valuable opportunities for young people.

Away from Active Schools I’ve been involved with both youth rugby and football coaching on a voluntary basis for a number of years which keeps me busy most evenings and weekends…. Sport and physical activity has been a big part of my life and I gain satisfaction from being able to provide opportunities for others to participate.