A total of 1,458,167 people took part in activities at Sport Aberdeen venues in a 12-month period increasing numbers by 31,833, an Aberdeen City Council committee was told.
The organisation also hosted 179 events including national and international competitions and exceeded targets in several key performance areas, including memberships, sports camps, and partner club memberships.
The figures were presented as part of an annual report to Finance and Resources Committee approved a report on Wednesday 5 November 2025 which highlighted the positive impact of Arm’s Length External Organisations (ALEOs), of which Sport Aberdeen is one, on the city’s health, culture and sports.
Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader Councillor Ian Yuill said: “It’s great to see so many people using Sports Aberdeen’s facilities and increases in participants. Sport and physical activity have an important part in supporting people’s health and wellbeing.”
Co-Leader Councillor Christian Allard said: “People taking part in sports is hugely beneficial to Aberdeen as it benefits people as individuals to stay active and healthy which then helps NHS Grampian.”
Sport Aberdeen CEO Keith Heslop said: “Sport Aberdeen is more than sport. Our work is about creating opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to live healthier, happier lives. The growth in our memberships, our award-winning programmes and the millions in social value we deliver each year show the positive impact we are making across the city.
“We are ambitious for the future, from transforming Westburn into a much-needed community hub to working with partners on a 10-year sports strategy for Aberdeen. But we remain realistic about the financial pressures we face, which is why every penny of surplus we generate goes straight back into facilities and services for our communities.”
The report said more than 7,000 children got active on a weekly basis across all coached Sport Aberdeen programme activity, representing one fifth of children in the city. There was an increased in Active Schools provision by 6% with 176,499 visits across city schools (both primary and secondary) with a 29% increase of participants in priority neighbourhoods from the previous year.
Each week more than 5,500 children took part in ‘learn to swim’ sessions across six pools, with additional lessons provided for adults, children with additional support needs, and those with aquaphobia. In addition, swimming lessons were delivered to all P4 pupils citywide, reaching 2,200 learners.
Bikeability Level 2 training was delivered to all city primary schools, ensuring safe cycling habits.
The indoor climbing wall at Northfield Academy was reactivated in March 2025 and a £3,900 grant included training for 32 staff to deliver bouldering sessions which enabled more than 50 pupils to take part in taster sessions.
The Football for All project, which provides weekly football sessions for the New Scots community in Aberdeen, has already supported more than 100 players from 10 nationalities, helping many overcome isolation and even progress into local amateur clubs.
It also highlighted a successful year for Aberdeen Sports Village, a joint venture between Aberdeen City Council and the University of Aberdeen.
The report said Sport Aberdeen’s Strategy for an Active Aberdeen 2016-2026 has the vision of making Aberdeen the most active city in Scotland, with a mission to Activate the City. The key strands of this strategy relate to increasing opportunities and participation in sport and physical activity, investing in physical infrastructure and communities.