Data for Children Collaborative

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Gallery of Children’s Drawings - Sport and Physical Activity in Scotland

Gallery of Children’s Drawings


Engagement from children and young people in Scotland played a critical role in understanding what sports and physical activity mean to them and gaining insight into their individual experiences.

As a part of a larger collaborative project, researchers from Abertay University invited children and young people to express their experiences through drawings and art to amplify their voices in the discussions around youth sport and physical activity in Scotland. The researchers used the lens of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to recreational sports. They wanted to know what sports and physical activity looked like for children before and during the pandemic and what it would look like in an ideal world.  

This research exercise is committed to empowering children and young people in Scotland. Through a participatory approach, we have provided them a platform to express their experiences and hopes. This approach is not just about listening to their voices but also about giving them the power to influence policy and practice in Scotland, ensuring their needs and rights to health and happiness are met. A final report of policy recommendations for this project, incorporating the findings of this qualitative exercise, is due in May 2024. 

We hope that by sharing and celebrating the colourful results of these children’s efforts, you will join us in listening to their voices and advocating for their rights and well-being. 

Thank you to all the amazing children who participated in this research!


Lead researcher Dr Paula Murray, a lecturer on Abertay's Sport Development and Coaching programme and a Research Associate of the Observatory for Sport in Scotland, led this research exercise in collaboration with Abertay University colleagues Dr David Scott, Dr Rhiannon Lord and teaching fellow Dr Julia Chan.  

More information about the research