Award-winning charity Sport Aberdeen was ecstatic to recently receive a generous donation of £26,000 from Saltire Energy to boost sporting opportunities available for children across local schools.
Along with match funding of £19,000 from Sport Aberdeen, the total contribution was used to purchase 18 pallets of sports equipment including 1,107 footballs, 1,084 beanbags, 391 basketballs, 311 dodgeballs, 129 netballs, 132 badminton rackets and 930 shuttlecocks, and 129 netballs.
As a result of the kind and substantial donation from Saltire Energy, every primary and secondary school in Aberdeen received new sports equipment.
Each school was given the opportunity to request their chosen sports equipment and Sport Aberdeen placed the order.
Sport Aberdeen’s Active Schools team worked determinedly last week to organise and arrange the 18 pallets of equipment delivered to the charity’s Linx Ice Arena venue.
All equipment was delivered to each individual school by the team on Friday 2 May.
From left, Graeme Dale and Mike Loggie with Seaton Primary school pupils
Mike Loggie, CEO of Saltire Energy, said: “Initiatives like this are at the core of our values at Saltire Energy, and we are proud to support Sport Aberdeen in delivering such a meaningful project.
“Providing every school in the city with new sports equipment is a great way to give back to our local community and invest in the next generation. Encouraging young people to be active and participate in sport not only promotes a healthy lifestyle but also builds confidence, teamwork, and resilience, skills that will benefit them well into the future.”
Graeme Dale, director of sport and active communities at Sport Aberdeen, said: “A big thanks to Mike and the team at Saltire Energy for the incredible donation, enabling us to purchase a significant amount of sports equipment for local schools.
“When the order arrived and pallet after pallet came off the delivery lorry, it became apparent just how much had been ordered and the difference it would make.
“Sport and physical activity plays a vital role in the lives of children and young people, providing physical and mental health benefits as well as the opportunity to socialise and make new friends.
“I extend my thanks also to our Active Schools team for all their hard work and enthusiasm to sort, arrange and deliver the equipment, it was a huge logistical exercise to get all the sports kit sorted and out to all the schools.”