Lorna Husband, 25, has spent 2025 challenging herself to try a new sport every week, documenting her journey through a blog, website, and social media channels including Instagram and TikTok. Her mission? To show that sport is for everyone – and that trying something new could be life-changing.
As part of her adventure, Lorna has taken on everything from fly fishing and fencing to flamenco and velodrome cycling –and was delighted to meet Sir Chris Hoy a few days later at an event in Dundee. Among her most daring experiences was diving at the Royal Commonwealth Pool, where she tackled heights from 1m to the formidable 10m platform, and climbing at EICA: Ratho, Europe’s largest indoor climbing arena, alongside her boyfriend who helps film her weekly challenges.
“As a water-baby, I thoroughly enjoyed my diving challenge,” said Lorna. “My coach Matthew was incredibly patient and encouraging. I hadn’t realised how much leg and core strength diving requires! While I didn’t reach Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix’s level in one lesson, I definitely gained a head for heights.
“Climbing at Europe’s largest indoor climbing arena at Ratho was another highlight – the sheer scale of the arena is breathtaking. It was both physically demanding and exhilarating, and having my boyfriend there to cheer me and compete against made it even more memorable.”
Lorna’s journey began as part of her post-graduate sports journalism course at Napier University, supported by her boyfriend who gifted her a GoPro and helps film her weekly adventures. She’s also launched a website – www.sport-port.co.uk – to help others find a sport they might enjoy or a club to join.
Now, she’s lending her voice to Edinburgh Leisure’s November campaign, Next Big Thing, which aims to encourage children and adults alike to explore new sports through coaching.
“Our campaign is all about sparking curiosity,” said Angela McCowan, Sports Development Manager at Edinburgh Leisure. “Sports coaching helps build confidence, communication skills, and keeps kids active. It’s about fun, skill-building, and learning vital life skills like swimming.”
With only 59% of school-aged children meeting recommended daily activity levels, Edinburgh Leisure is urging families to help their children find their next big passion through sport. Coaching options include swimming, gymnastics, climbing, and more – all delivered by expert instructors in a fun and friendly environment.
Why Join?
• Fun and friendly coaching for all abilities
• Expert instructors to guide every step
• A great way to stay active, make friends, and build confidence
• Flexible options across the city
Parents and guardians can explore available sessions and sign up at: www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/coaching-activities
Let this autumn be the start of something big – because diving, climbing, swimming or tennis could be your Next Big Thing.
With just 59% of school-aged children meeting the recommended daily levels of physical activity, the start of the new school term is the perfect time to get kids moving. Edinburgh Leisure is encouraging families to help their children discover their next big passion through sport by signing up for one of its fun and engaging coaching courses.
With a spotlight on three exciting sports – Diving, Climbing, and Tennis – the campaign encourages children aged P1 and up to try something new, build skills, and have fun in a supportive, expert-led environment. Whether they’re scaling new heights, making a splash, or smashing their first serve, there’s something for everyone.
Angela McCowan, Sports Development Manager at Edinburgh Leisure said: “We want to encourage parents to give their children a new exciting hobby to look forward to this term and sport could be their next big thing. As the leading provider of sports and leisure facilities, we have a wide range of
coaching opportunities available across our venues for all abilities.
“Sports coaching offers so much more than just learning the game or skill – it helps children build confidence, develop strong listening and communication skills, and stay active in line with recommended exercise levels. It’s about nurturing life skills through movement, teamwork, and fun – giving every child the chance to grow both on and off the court, pitch, or pool.”
It is recommended that children and young people aged 5-18 years should aim for at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity daily, with some of this activity being bone and muscle strengthening.
Preschoolers, aged 3-5 years, should be active throughout the day, with at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity.
In Scotland, it is estimated that approximately 69-71% of children aged 5-15 meet the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity, including school-based activities. When excluding school-based activities, this figure drops to about 59%. There’s a notable age-related decline, with younger children (5-7 years old) being more active (around 80%) than older teens (13-15 years old) (around 60%).
Why Join?
- Fun and friendly coaching for all abilities
- Expert instructors to guide every step
- A great way to stay active, make friends, and build confidence
- Flexible options across the city
Parents and guardians are encouraged to visit https://www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/coaching-activities/ to explore available sessions and sign up.
Let this term be the start of something big – because Diving, Climbing, or Tennis could be their next big thing.
Edinburgh Leisure is proud to announce a new partnership with The University of Edinburgh, providing their Endurance Running Coach, Mark Rowland, and their student-athletes with access to the world-class facilities at Meadowbank Sports Centre.
This collaboration aligns with the ambitions of the Global Endurance Project, led by Mark Rowland, which aims to establish a world-class endurance training environment by integrating high performance coaching, research, and elite performance support. By leveraging Meadowbank’s exceptional facilities, the project will continue to attract and develop top endurance talent, reinforcing Edinburgh’s reputation as a leading hub for endurance sport.
Through this partnership, their endurance athletes will benefit from access to elite-level facilities, optimising their preparation for national and international competition. The initiative supports athlete development by fostering an environment of progression, enabling student-athletes to train alongside top-level performers and maximise their potential. Furthermore, it guarantees year-round access to world-class facilities, ensuring consistent, high-quality training conditions that support long-term performance goals.
This collaboration also strengthens the University of Edinburgh Sport’s Global Endurance Project by utilising Meadowbank as a key performance base to drive innovation, collaboration, and high-performance training in endurance sport. As a hub for endurance sport, this partnership reinforces Edinburgh’s status as a leading destination for endurance running.
This partnership reflects the University of Edinburgh’s commitment to excellence in endurance sport and enhances our ability to support athletes in achieving their full potential.
Danielle Hutson, Operations Manager at Meadowbank, said:
“We are delighted to be partnering with the University of Edinburgh to further the development of elite athletes and sport in general. Some of our Edinburgh Talent Athlete Support Scheme (ETASS) athletes are involved in this project and we look forward to working with them and Edinburgh University, by providing access to our venue to develop their full potential and accomplish world class performance levels.“
David Hughes, Head of Performance Sport at the University of Edinburgh, added:
“We are absolutely delighted to partner with Edinburgh Leisure to provide our endurance athletes with access to the world-class facilities at Meadowbank. This collaboration is a fantastic opportunity to enhance our training environment and support the ambitions of the Global Endurance Project. By working together, we can ensure our athletes have the best possible resources to develop, compete, and achieve their full potential on the national and international stage.“