Heriot-Watt University Sports Union (HWUSU) has agreed a fundraising partnership with Wester Hailes Active Schools, which will see £400 raised across the year for the Wester Hailes Active Schools sports programme.
The funds given will be used to provide HWUSU students with opportunities to coach pupils from the Wester Hailes Active Schools cluster, which includes Clovenstone Primary, Canal View Primary, Sighthill Primary and Wester Hailes Education Centre. This partnership will allow for the pupils of these schools to benefit from increased sporting activity and will provide them with more information on the opportunities higher or further education can offer. It will also allow HWUSU students to have the opportunity of improving their University experience and future employability.
HWUSU President Michael Webster and HWUSU Community Co-ordinator Danny McCormick gave a presentation to over 100 S1 and S2 pupils from Wester Hailes Education Centre on the importance of sport and the opportunities within higher and further education as well as the fundraising partnership and the benefits it could offer.
Danny McCormick said,
This is a really exciting partnership that will hopefully have a whole range of benefits for the pupils within the Wester Hailes Active Schools cluster and the students of Heriot-Watt University. It is fantastic to be able to give something back to the local community.
Ricky Karoyan, Active Schools Co-ordinator for the Wester Hailes Education Centre, said,
This fantastic partnership will benefit the pupils greatly, they will have access to increased sporting opportunities and quality coaching. Our first goal is to run a S1 – S3 football team so we can start playing other schools within the city with the intention of joining the School Cup League. The link with the Heriot-Watt students will not only improve our sporting programme, it will also give our pupils the incentive and belief that they too can aspire to go to University. I look forward to working with the new coaches from Heriot-Watt and developing their coaching skills via the Active Schools Fit to Coach programme.
Danny and Michael presented a £400 cheque to Leanne Longmuir and Nicole Hume, S5 Young Ambassadors from Wester Hailes Education Centre, outside the school and shook hands to formalise this new partnership.
