A VOLUNTEER who works across schools in North Ayrshire has been recognised for his outstanding dedication.

Connor Paterson has been celebrating national success after attending the sportscotland Coaching, Officiating and Volunteering (COV) Awards 2024 this month.

The Stevenston man, who works as an active schools volunteer across local primary schools, was named school sport volunteer of the year at the ceremony.

He claimed the top recognition for the time and dedication he has given through this role.

Connor has been volunteering with North Ayrshire Active Schools since he was in S3. In that time Connor has gone from helping out with the football team in his old primary school to being a sought after coach throughout the area.

The 21-year-old has used sport and leadership opportunities to re-engage with education and improve his own mental health, and he’s now helping others do the same.

The Three Towns youngster has done a lot of one-to-one work with pupils who have displayed challenging behaviour.

This has had a big impact on the pupils with some being integrated back into the school football team and showing better behaviour in class.

He volunteers around 15-20 hours every week to help improve sporting opportunities for school pupils across North Ayrshire.

(Image: Alan Peebles)

He leads coaching in lunch and after school clubs in Ardeer, Glencairn and Mayfield primary schools and also supports some teachers during curriculum time to deliver quality PE sessions. 

Connor is also a keen bowler and has been part of sportscotland’s Young People’s Sport Panel for the last two years.

The Young People’s Sport Panel provides a national platform to represent the voice of young people across Scotland.

The role of the panel is to help influence and shape the future of sport in Scotland and to raise the profile of sport.

There were over 130 applicants for the current panel for which Connor was one of 20 selected.

He commented: “I’ve loved sport from a really young age, as soon as I got involved in coaching it’s become life really. I’ve loved it, every part of it.

“I always make sure my sessions are structed and well planned. The main point for me is if they come in happy, I want to make sure they leave even happier.”

Forbes Dunlop, chief executive of sportscotland, added: “Every year the Coaching, Officiating and Volunteering Awards give us the opportunity to celebrate the people across the country who have given so much of their time and dedication to Scottish sport and are making such an impact on their sport and their community.

“Across Scotland, there are thousands of people who recognise the impact that sport can have on us all.

"The people we are celebrating have taken that recognition and, with a huge amount of hard work, helped to change people's lives.

“Individuals like Connor have dedicated a huge amount of their time to helping others realise their sporting potential.”