The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Sports clubs share lottery cash splash
Sports clubs across the north-east were rejoicing yesterday after receiving a fivefigure cash boost. Dyce Rugby Club, Cove Youth Football Club, Aberdeen and District Table Tennis Association and Kincorth Amateur Football Club are to benefit from a share of £15,650.
The National Lottery Awards for All payout comes at a time when recreational clubs are feeling the pinch after seven months of Covid-19 restrictions.
Aberdeen and District Table Tennis Association will use a grant of £7,000 to replace older table tennis tables with new ones that can be used at competition level.
T he group will then distribute the older but still usable tables to local community groups and centres.
Kincorth Amateur Football Club will put its £ 7, 0 0 0 grant towards refurbishing portable cabins for use as dressing rooms.
Meanwhile, Cove Youth Football Club has received £ 1,000 to purchase hand sanitiser for better hygiene for its youth teams when the y finally re turn to training.
Dyce Rugby Club will use its cash grant of £ 650 to purchase additional rugby balls – enabling them to be sanitised more frequently – as well as extra PPE equipment.
Aberdeen and District Table Tennis Association development officer Dick Ferro said :“We are delighted to have received this grant from Awards for All.
“Not only will it significantly improve the quality of equipment used by our aspiring youngsters at the table tennis academy, it will also allow us to distribute equipment to facilities throughout Aberdeenshire to enable the continued growth of our sport for all ages.”
Kris Harris, chairman of Kincorth Amateur Football Club, added: “We are incredibly thankful to the National Lottery Awards for All Scotland in partnership with SportScotland for the funding.
“This will significantly aid the delivery of our multi-purpose on-site facilities, which will be a catalyst to promote youth development initiatives.”
The grants have been made possible thanks to National Lottery players, who raise £30 million each week for good causes across the UK.
Stewart Harris, chief executive of SportScotland, said: “This funding from the National Lottery will make a huge difference to clubs and communities the length and breadth of the country.
“The grants will help improve sporting opportunities as part of Scotland’s world class sporting system for all.
“A huge thank-you must go National Lottery players as, without their contribution, today’ s investment in sports clubs and physical activity organisations would not have been possible.
“That contribution is playing a critical role in supporting people, projects and communities during these challenging times.”
A National Lottery Awards for All spokesman added: “These awards are helping to make an amazing contribution to the nationwide response to combat the impact of Covid-19 on local communities across Scotland.
“I would like to congratulate all the groups receiving funding.
“They are all important projects which will support people now and in the future, when they can physically come back together to make great things happen in their community.”