Ace help for Newtonmore tennis from superstore

Aldi has invested £6,500 in local sports clubs across the North-East and Highlands as part of the supermarket’s annual Scottish Sport Fund.

The store group has restructured the prizes to improve investment in grassroots sport, giving local sports clubs the chance to receive funding ranging from £500 to £2,500.

Sharing in the pot are Newtonmore Tennis Club and Highland Rugby Football Club.

The rugby players secured the top prize in the region and has put its £2,500 award towards buying new balls and kit as well as funding its community coaching programme, which provides training in local secondary schools.

Newtonmore's tennis players received a £1,000 boost.

The Inverness Boys Brigade, Grampian Tigers Youth Cycling, MS Society and Upper Deeside Amateur Swimming Club were also successful and received £500 each.

Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund aims to help people of all ages take part in physical activity within their local communities by giving clubs the chance to secure much needed funding.

Since launching in 2016, the retail giant has invested over £37,000 and supported over 80 sports clubs across the North-East and Highlands, helping to improve community access to sports across the region.

Graham Findlater, president of Highland Rugby Football Club, said: ”We are are delighted to have been awarded £2,500, which is helping to promote rugby in the Highlands.

"The funding will be used in our junior section, to provide new kit for our U13 squad, as well as some additional backing for our community coaches.

"Our community coaches work closely with pupils and teachers in Secondary Schools in Inverness to provide pupils with an introduction to playing rugby. The money has been a lifeline in helping to keep our club up and running.”

Richard Holloway, regional managing director for Scotland, said: “It’s brilliant that a wide variety of sports clubs across the North-East and Highlands have been able to benefit from our Scottish Sport Fund initiative.

"We know that this year has been incredibly challenging for sports clubs, with many being unable to train for a significant amount of time due to lockdown, and it’s very humbling to see how much of a difference extra funding can make to clubs like Highland Rugby Football Club and in supporting people across Scotland to lead an active and healthy lifestyle.”

The Scottish Sport Fund is open to any sporting organisation in Scotland that meets the application criteria, from rugby clubs to after school groups and everything in between. Groups can apply for funding for a wide range of purposes, including new strips and equipment or to put towards the cost of training facilities and coaching.

Team GB athlete Katie Archibald said: “Accessing funding can be very challenging for local sports clubs, however thanks to Aldi’s continued support and valuable donations over the years, sports clubs across Scotland are now able to reach their full potential in supporting the local community with a variety of sporting opportunities.”

Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund is part of the retailer’s wider commitment to help cultivate a healthier Scotland, including weekly Super 6 fruit and veg deals, a pledge to reduce salt levels in products in line with Government targets, and replacing confectionery, chocolate and sweets at tills with dried fruit, nuts and water.

More info: www.aldi.co.uk/scottishsportfund

Latest Strathy news headlines

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.