Edinburgh and Lothian sports clubs in with a chance to bag £2,500 grant funding from Aldi

Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund has returned for its seventh year and local sports clubs across Edinburgh and The Lothians can now apply for a share of £50,000.

The fund encourages people of all ages and abilities to take part in physical activity within their local communities by offering sports clubs the chance to secure essential funding. There are a range of funding tiers available, with one club in the area guaranteed to secure a £2,500 funding boost.

Since launching in 2016, nearly 500 clubs across Scotland have benefitted from a funding uplift of £290,000 through Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund, helping to improve community access to sports across the country.

From gymnastics to football and volleyball to bowling, Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund is open to any sporting organisation that meets the application criteria.

In 2021, Aldi supported a selection of sports clubs across Edinburgh and The Lothians, including Lismore Rugby Football Club and trampolining club, PHD FUNdamentals. The additional funding helped both clubs fund training sessions and purchase new equipment.

Richard Holloway, Regional Managing Director for Aldi Scotland, said: “Since launching in 2016, our Scottish Sport Fund has given a wide range of sports clubs the chance to benefit from essential funding to help them invest in much needed equipment and resources.  

“Sports clubs across Scotland have had a really challenging time over the last two years, and I am proud that Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund gives these clubs a helping hand to continue the fantastic work they do in their communities.

“Each year, we are blown away by the applications we receive, and I look forward to welcoming more in 2022. I’d encourage any sports clubs across Edinburgh and The Lothians to apply and take advantage of this excellent funding opportunity.”

Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund is part of the retailer’s wider commitment to help local communities in Scotland, which it also does through its Neighbourly partnership and Supermarket Sweep.

Sports clubs located across Edinburgh and The Lothians have from Monday 22 August to Sunday 25 September to apply for funding.

One applicant will be selected to receive £2,500 of funding, two applicants will each receive £1,000 of funding, while several other applicants will each receive £500 of funding towards their sports club.

Applications can be made via a form found on: 

https://www.aldi.co.uk/scottishsportfund.

The Aldi Scottish Sport Fund is open to any sporting organisation in Scotland that meets the application criteria. All applications will be considered by the Aldi judging panel and entrants will be notified of the outcome of their funding application within four to six weeks from the region’s deadline. Please see the Aldi Scottish Sport Fund FAQs and Terms & Conditions for more information.

Aldi invests over £10,000 in local sports clubs

Twenty sports clubs across the Lothians and the Scottish Borders have benefitted from a share of £10,000 from Aldi as part of the supermarket’s Scottish Sport Fund.

Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund is an initiative that aims to help people of all ages take part in physical activity within their local communities by giving clubs the chance to secure up to £500 funding. Since launching in 2016, over 394 clubs across Scotland have benefitted from a funding boost of more than £190,000, helping to improve community access to sports across the country.

Last year, sports clubs such as Watsonians Ladies Rugby, Bathgate Amateur Swim Club, Lennel Lawn Tennis Club and Leith Community Archers each received £500 from Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund. Applications were submitted from across the Lothians and the Scottish Borders and a judging panel from Aldi was given the tough job of reviewing the submissions and selecting the beneficiaries.

Leith Community Archers, a charity run by local volunteers that promotes sport recreation and community bonding through archery, has used their funding to purchase new bows that have been specially modified for wheelchair users.

George Fyvie, a volunteer at Leith Community Archers, said: “Several of our members are wheelchair users, and until recently we only had one modified bow available to use. Thanks to Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund, we now have three new, specially made bows, meaning more of our members can take part.

“Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund is a fantastic initiative and an incredibly valuable source of funding for clubs like ours that rely on donations and volunteers. On behalf of everyone at Leith Community Archers, I’d like to thank Aldi for their support.”

Aldi’s 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 facility fees and coaching.

Meanwhile, four schools across Scotland each recently won £20,000 to spend on new equipment as part of the supermarket’s Kits For Schools initiative, which aims to provide pupils with a range of exciting new sporting opportunities ahead of Tokyo 2020.

Richard Holloway, Regional Managing Director for Aldi Scotland, said: “Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund is part of our wider commitment to help cultivate a healthier, happier Scotland whilst encouraging people to lead more active lifestyles in the long run.

“It’s extremely heartening to see the difference the funding can make to clubs such as Leith Community Archers, and in turn improve the lives of people in their local communities.

“There are so many fantastic sports initiatives across the country, many of which are run by volunteers, and we hope to be able to help even more of them as we look ahead to re-launching the fund for its fifth year.”

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.

For more information about Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund please visit: www.aldi.co.uk/scottishsportfund