Data centre service provider Iomart is supporting Wheatley Group’s project to provide sports kit to clubs in disadvantaged communities in central Scotland.
Beacon Warriors Badminton Club, in one of GHA’s communities, was the first of 18 winners to be announced. Youngsters had previously been forced to take turns to train as the club did not have enough racquets or equipment. The prize was presented by Commonwealth Games silver medallist Kirsty Gilmour.
The competition provides sports clubs in disadvantaged communities across the central belt of Scotland with vouchers to buy equipment or kits. Clubs were chosen from within Wheatley’s communities, including Glasgow Housing Association, Cube Housing, West Lothian Housing Partnership, Loretto Housing and YourPlace.
The competition was part of Wheatley Pledge, a £1.5 million scheme encouraging Wheatley’s contractors and suppliers to do more to help people who live in the housing provider’s neighbourhoods.
Alex McGuire, director of property, Wheatley Group, said, “The competition really caught the imagination of clubs across central Scotland. We’re absolutely delighted that our suppliers, such as Iomart, are working with us to make a real difference to sports clubs in some of the most disadvantaged communities in the country.”
Iomart, which provides data centre services to GHA, signed the pledge as part of its ‘Host Your Kit’ campaign which encourages young people to take up sport across the UK.
Phil Worms, director of marketing, Iomart, said, “By working with Wheatley Group, we are supporting disadvantaged communities where funds are not easy to come by. By lessening the financial burden for clubs in those communities, we can help boost participation in sport.”
