Sam Scott Email & Phone Number

Edinburgh, Scotland, Gb

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

As a Project Manager at Edinburgh Leisure, I currently lead the implementation of the Healthy Active Minds and Movement for Memories projects. Moreover, I support staff well-being initiatives and raise awareness about mental health issues across our organisation.The Movement for Memories project provides support to those with dementia through various activities, including outreach programs. I oversee a team of supervisors and instructors that connect program participants to a host of activities such as swimming, golf, tennis, fitness classes, and walking. Additionally, I provide dementia awareness training to Edinburgh Leisure's staff and help ensure the accessibility needs of people with dementia are being met.The Healthy Active Minds project delivers a physical activity referral service to adults aged 18 and over with mild to moderate depression, stress, anxiety, or low moods. I manage a team of supervisors and instructors that provide specialist support on lifestyle changes and motivational guidance as well as create a tailored physical activity plan for each individual, including options such as yoga, swimming, gym sessions, and walking. Their goal is not only to support individuals during their journey but also to encourage their continued physical activity even after the program ends.Both of these projects are supported by funding from the Life Changes Trust, which is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund. It is a privilege to manage these projects, and I'm proud to be a part of Thrive Edinburgh, a strategic partnership committed to improving mental health and well-being.

As a Project Manager for Movement for Memories at Edinburgh Leisure, I led a team that supported people living with dementia to maintain an active lifestyle. This project had three areas of work including a referral service that offered various activities such as golf, swimming, gym, tennis, fitness classes, and walking. Along with the outreach service, I supported the development of a Dementia Friendly Edinburgh Leisure program to deliver dementia awareness training. My role was to create and deliver project plans that met our agreed objectives and aims. In addition, I led my team to develop exit strategies that enabled individuals to remain active in their communities even after they stopped using Movement for Memories. I supported funding applications, managed budgets, and anticipated future expenditures. I evaluated the project's impact on the health and wellbeing of people with dementia with creative methods such as case studies and films while forging relationships with key health partners, such as Alzheimer's Scotland, to raise awareness about our work. At locality Health and Wellbeing meetings, I represented Edinburgh Leisure to ensure shared information and priorities identified. Leveraging my extensive knowledge and understanding of dementia, I influenced strategic decision making to break down barriers to our facilities. It included influencing building and program design to make our facilities easily accessible for people with dementia. I provided recommendations for pricing and operational procedures, leading marketing activities to make it easy for people living with dementia to stay informed and connected. I am proud of the work I delivered at Edinburgh Leisure, where I enabled many people with dementia to stay active with the help of my team.

As a Project Manager for Edinburgh Leisure, I oversaw and developed Fit for Health, a 16-week physical activity referral program in collaboration with the Edinburgh Health & Social Care Partnership to support people with long-term health conditions. I managed a team that delivered classes across numerous Edinburgh Leisure venues.Fit for Health is designed for individuals aged 16 and above who have long-term health conditions such as heart disease, respiratory disease, diabetes, cancer, heart failure, or arthritis. In this role, I created and executed project plans that met established aims and objectives as well as designed exit strategies enabling participants to remain active.I was responsible for supporting business cases, developing funding applications, managing budgets, and leading and empowering my team to deliver effective health and wellbeing initiatives. Project evaluation was an essential component of my role, as it demonstrated the program's impact on the health and well-being of individuals with long-term conditions while supporting our key stakeholders. I used innovative techniques such as case studies and films to illustrate the program's impact.Additionally, I collaborated with crucial health partners such as the NHS and the Voluntary Sector, to raise awareness of our program and encourage a holistic approach to physical activity.I am proud of the work we accomplished with Edinburgh Leisure to develop Fit for Health. Our efforts improved the health, well-being, and quality of life of many individuals with long-term conditions, which was a profound impact.

As a Specialist Health Class Instructor at Edinburgh Leisure, I led falls prevention classes for referred participants at our facilities. Depending on their ability levels, clients could participate in either studio or gym-based activities. I prioritised the importance of physical activity and encouraged healthy lifestyle habits outside the classroom to ensure optimal health improvement results. With my Level 4 PSI qualification, I delivered research-backed exercises tailored to frailer elderly individuals with a history of falls. These exercises have demonstrated significant results in increasing moderate physical activity levels and preventing falls in the general elderly population (primary prevention).I ensured that each class was prepared appropriately, with exercise session plans that were tailored to individual needs, and a studio space that was conducive to our activities. The necessary equipment and materials were always available, and I conducted pre and post-assessments and questionnaires with each participant to monitor and report on their progress. I maintained regular check-ins with high-risk participants, whether through in-person meetings or follow-up phone calls, to ensure class completion and motivate people to maintain their physical activity levels.Through these specialist health classes, I helped promote healthy and active lifestyles, and I'm proud of the service I provided. Witnessing positive outcomes and participants being able to maintain their independence is deeply rewarding.

As a Gym Instructor at Edinburgh Leisure, I was committed to supporting Edinburgh Leisure’s “Service Promise” and providing exceptional customer service. By welcoming and interacting with all customers visiting the gym, I ensured that their needs were met and that they wanted to come back. I planned and delivered gym introductions for new and returning customers, encouraged regular reviews of their programs to maximize their gym experience, and provided advice and encouragement to promote the benefits of regular physical activity for achieving their goals.I effectively used Edinburgh Leisure's retention tool (TRP) to recognise and identify high-risk customers, prioritising effective interactions with this customer group. My goal was to ensure a customer commitment to return within seven days. To enhance customer experience, I planned and delivered group activities such as NRG Zone, Tabata, older adults, health-related, and express workouts. As a responsible gym instructor, I actively managed how our customers used the gym and equipment, correcting technique, monitoring equipment usage, behaviour, payment for services, cleanliness, and hygiene. The safety of gym customers was paramount, and I made sure that all equipment was clean and safe to use. I reported and recorded any equipment faults and kept customers informed on equipment repair.In addition to my role as a Gym Instructor, I was responsible for my personal development by continually updating my professional development in line with industry expectations. I regularly updated my REPs CPD through online updates or on-site files, ensuring up-to-date knowledge and techniques in my approach to fitness instruction and customer service.