Stornoway United F00tball Club has been boosted by a £10,000 NHS Western Isles grant aimed at supporting organisations which provide physical activity for children and adults on Lewis.
The money has been used to buy and install a storage container at the club’s training site, run training sessions for four-year-olds and set up a football kit swap service.
As a community club, Stornoway United offers everyone the chance to enjoy football either as a player, a volunteer coach or committee member.
Stornoway United chairman Iain Morrison said: “The club uses specific equipment for different age groups. This lets participants develop life skills that will encourage a healthier lifestyle and promote physical activity.
“The club has invested significantly in footballs, bibs, cones, coaching spots and games kits.
“The aim of the grant was to provide a storage container for this at the all-weather pitch in Stornoway. We also needed to clear the area to site the container which is lined and shelved to ensure the equipment is kept safe.
“Now we can keep the kit dry and set up drills for all our age groups – U7, U9, U11, U13, U15, U18 and seniors – more than 120 children and young people, plus 30 adults.
“Having the storage container pitch side means young club members help clear up, making them feel responsible and included in all aspects of the sessions.”
The club’s kit/football boot swap scheme allows people to donate items they no longer need for others to use them.
Iain said: “This has been very popular already. It’s a great way of recycling kit.
“Our thanks go NHS Western Isles for supporting us to develop our club.”
Featured image: Stornoway United Under 7s enjoy a training session with their new equipment. NO_F47_StornowayUnited_23_Funding_Under7s