Aviemore retailer FatFace goes extra length to help strath's young swimmers
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Young swimmers in the strath will be able to further their training in full-sized competition pools thanks to a grant from a prominent local clothing retailer.
Every week more than 40 of the area’s most committed school-age members of Grantown Swim Club train several times in the 20m pool at the town's Craig MacLean Leisure Centre but coaches are keen for them to benefit from swimming in 25m and 50m competition-sized pools.
The club holds regular events to raise funds to keep the cost of training, equipment and travel affordable for its members. At its recent first gala evening since lockdown, members were delighted to learn the club had been awarded the largest grant available from Aviemore-based retailer FatFace, through its charitable arm The FatFace Foundation.
Judy Burke, store manager, presented the £750 cheque to club chair Amy Murphie at the gala evening at Grantown Golf Club.
She said: “Through its ‘I Will’ grants, The FatFace Foundation gives staff the opportunity to nominate community causes they already support personally for grants of up to £750 and I was delighted to learn that my nomination for Grantown Swim Club had secured the maximum award,” she said.
“For several years, my husband and I have served on the club’s committee and have seen for ourselves the huge benefits it brings for local young people in terms of their fitness, their teamwork and friendships."
“Last year FatFace celebrated its 20th anniversary in Aviemore which coincided with the FatFace Foundation making a grant of £10,000 towards the cost of opening the new ice rink there. I am pleased to have been able to secure another grant for the area in this round of funding too.”
Club chair Amy Murphie, thanked Mrs Burke and FatFace for the award.
She said: “This will be of huge benefit to the club and will allow the swimmers to develop their skills and talents further through trips to larger competition-sized pools in places like Inverness, Aberdeen and Dundee.”
She continued: “This bonus award is extremely welcome and will allow us to add an extra trip but we still need to continue with our regular fund-raising to cover the ongoing cost of meeting at the pool in Grantown and providing training for all members.
"That’s why we continue to ask for the support of the community to keep this wholly positive group going for our youngsters.”
Head coach Cath Moore explained that training sessions in competition-sized pools will allow members to build their stamina and compete with other top swimmers from around the country.
“The facility we have in Grantown is wonderful and we are so grateful to High Life Highland and all their staff for everything they do for us,” she said.
“The children are so lucky to have this on their doorstep but these extra funds will allow us to train in bigger pools to continue their development to the next level.”
The FatFace Foundation’s 'I Will' grants of up to £750 are named after Ian Williams – a former employee whose can-do attitude is held up as an example to staff and their communities.
