Back in 2003, Active Communities began as a jogging group in Paisley called Jogging Buddies. 20 years later, Jogging Buddies has grown into a multi-award-winning health and wellbeing charity that changes people's lives every day.
Here’s what the journey has looked like so far - and the best part is, we’re just getting started!
Jogging Buddies is first established, with just 1 Jog Leader and 15 joggers
Junior jogscotland is developed by Jogging Buddies (now a national programme in every local authority!)
Mums on the Run is established (now a national programme for jogscotland)
Buggy Buddies is launched.
Jogging Buddies become Scottish Athletics Award winners:
jogscotland Community Group of the Year
jogscotland Leader of the Year
jogscotland Achiever of the Year
Jogging Buddies becomes a registered charity
Jogging Buddies becomes Active Communities (Scotland) Ltd.
Active Ageing programme is launched
Active Communities win NHS contract to deliver community-led health in Renfrewshire.
400 people now participating weekly in our classes
Launch of BHF Hearty Lives, Youth Work in Sport, and Feel Good Renfrewshire Campaign (Glasgow 2014 Legacy programme).
At the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, 8 Active Communities members attend as Batonbearers for the Queens Baton Relay and 5 as Clydesiders
Our Community Health Champions programme launches
Active Communities wins local and national awards, including…
The BHF Impact Award
Positive about Youth Group of the Year
Young Sports Coach of the Year
GWT National Coordinator Award
And are shortlisted for ROCCO Community Champion!
We won the ROCCO Community Champions Award.
We delivered contracts for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde for New Mums, New You and MEND 2-4. More than 3,000 people take part in our events programme
Our community hub at 16 Quarry Street opens to the public. We deliver:
16136 hours of physical activity
21,506 hours improving social and emotional health and wellbeing
9048 hours of community capacity building
… and share 6162 cups of tea with the community!
Our Community Connectors project wins Health and Social Care Integration Award at the Herald Society Awards
Jogging Buddies celebrates its 15th Birthday!
Active Communities submits application to Police Scotland to take over disused Johnstone Police Station
Care2B Active is launched
Feel Good Renfrewshire is launched
Our CEO, Susan McDonald, receives a British Empire Medal and makes the Queen’s Birthday Honours list
A record-breaking 34,539 attendances at our groups and events!
We secure £2.2 million funding to transform Johnstone Police Station
Covid-19 pandemic hits (we’re still here!)
Station Seven opens and welcomes in fellow Renfrewshire charities, Roar - Connections for Life and Create to share the building. Our next chapter is well underway!
