Local Councillors Welcome Active Schools Boost from Mintlaw Business

A local company has joined forces with the Active Schools programme to encourage Mintlaw Academy pupils to get involved in after school activities.

Students at Mintlaw Academy can now find out what sporting activities are available to them in their areas, thanks to the new Active Schools Notice Board installed at the school.

Moira Smart, owner of local garden centre The Happy Plant, has donated the new equipment to the school and unveiled it on Tuesday 11 June. SNP councillors for Central Buchan Lenny Pirie and Jim Ingram have both welcomed the donation from the popular local garden centre.

The Active Schools Notice Board, located in the PE Department, will ensure that pupils are kept up-to-date with the sports on offer to them after school time, including indoor bowling, tennis and girls’ fitness and hopefully encourage them to go along and take part.

Commenting, Cllr Lenny Pirie said:

“This is a very generous contribution from the Happy Plant Garden Centre and is a very welcome addition to the school.

“The after-school sports programme is vitally important and the Active Schools Notice Board will be extremely useful in promoting that message and the range of activities on offer.”

Fellow Central Buchan councillor Jim Ingram added:

“It’s great to see a local business not only working with the school in this positive manner but promoting a healthy lifestyle to the pupils at Mintlaw Academy and Mrs Smart and the Happy Plant deserve thanks in this regard.”

Mrs Smart said she was delighted to be involved with the Active Schools programme and hoped it would further enhance Mintlaw Academy’s already outstanding sporting legacy, which includes the early career of female footballer Kim Little.

The Active Schools secondary programmes for Peterhead and Mintlaw academies are still accepting applications for this term. Further details are available on the Active Schools website: www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/recreation/active_schools/groups.asp or contact Malcolm Grant via email at  malcolm.grant@aberdeenshire.gov.uk.