Church is up for top sports gong
A Perthshire church has been nominated for a top national sports award.
St Madoes and Kinfauns Parish Church says it is delighted its active sports hub has been nominated for community hub of the year at the Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards.
The sports hub, based in the church’s Madoch Centre in St Madoes, opened in 2016 and aims to get more people in the community taking part in sport and exercise.
Anthea Bircham, community development coordinator at the Madoch Centre, said: “We are delighted to have been nominated for this national award because it gives us a chance to celebrate the achievements of our participants who, without the hub, wouldn’t have taken part in sport.
“We want to acknowledge our dedicated partners who have helped us make a programme with ‘something for everyone’ possible.
“And on behalf of the many people who attend classes, I want to thank our inspirational sports worker who gets the balance between motivation and encouragement just right for all of us.
“Through St Madoes active sports hub, so many people have crossed our path who we would just never have met in the past.”
The Madoch Centre was able to employ a full-time sports outreach worker after receiving funding from the likes of the Church of Scotland’s ‘go for it’ fund.
From January to March this year, an average of 400 people participated in activities each week at the hub in the Carse of Gowrie.
Some of the classes include preschool tennis, seated exercise for older adults, an exercise class for mums with creche facilities, pilates and sports activities for teens.
The team has also worked hard to make sure it is as inclusive as possible, by offering specialised sessions such as boccia, which can be played by people with disabilities.
The church added it sees the hub as not only improving parishioners’ fitness, but also building connections across the community and bringing neighbours together.
Rev Marc Bircham, minister at St Madoes and Kinfauns Parish Church, said: “In Scotland, the church has a long heritage in involvement in sport.
“In recent times we have lost sight of how good a vehicle sport can be in reaching out to others and in building community.
“Personally, I love attending as many of the classes as I can and have noticed a huge difference in my own fitness.”
The winner of the community hub of the year award was due to be presented at a glittering awards ceremony in Edinburgh last night (Thursday, October 3).