Store jump to aid kids’ play groups

A trio of Monklands organisations are receiving a total of almost £ 1500 in new funding from a supermarket.

Kirkshaws-based Parent Action for Safe Play (PASP), 2nd Coatbridge Scouts who meet in Whifflet, and Airdrie charity Hope for Autism made successful applications to Aldi’s recently-established Scottish sport fund.

It was set up following the retailer’s sponsorship of the British Olympic team, and is designed to help young people get active, with hundreds of applications being submitted.

PASP plan to use their £500 award to buy equipment for badminton, basketball, football and tennis, plus training bibs to use in the coaching programmes.

Their projects see youngsters aged between five and 15 attend for regular coaching sessions lasting for two and a half hours over 10 weeks, to “encourage participation in activities not usually available to them, encourage healthier lifestyles and increase fitness and energy levels”.

Members of 2 nd Coatbridge Scouts hit the target with their application and will receive the same amount to buy archery equipment.

The group has leaders qualified to teach the sport and said of the funding: “It would be great to pass on skills; this will allow us to expand the variety of activities the young people can take part in, and it would be great to enable all young people to try something different.”

Meanwhile, participants at Hope for Autism’s much enjoyed weekly trampoline class will be jumping for joy after the organisation received £490.

It will be used to purchase foam steps to access the trampolines and allow more youngsters to participate in the coaching sessions, plus special team tabards printed with their logo.

Charity representatives said in their successful application: “The weekly trampoline session is extremely popular with all of our young people.

“They access sports which improve their health and wellbeing and are supported by trained staff at all times while they enjoy the sessions.”