Commonwealth Games: Churches and centres use Sport For Good

Salvation Army churches and centres across Scotland are using sport and the Commonwealth Games as a springboard to help people improve their lives.

Corps from Orkney in the north to Stranraer in the south have received additional funding from a special mission pot to run summer activities designed to establish a sporting legacy.

Former Airdrie youth footballer Bobby Weir, The Salvation Army’s sports ministry co-ordinator in Scotland, is leading the initiative called Sport for Good to encourage communities to become more active in the lead up to the Games.

The 23-year-old said: “The Commonwealth Games is one of the biggest sporting events Scotland has ever hosted and we want to use the excitement felt by Scots as a platform to build a sporting legacy at our churches up and down the country.

“Sport already plays an important role in many Salvation Army churches and centres across the UK, bringing not just physically benefits but helping unite communities.

“Through sport, The Salvation Army is serving those in difficult life situations by simply having fun or making welcome those who normally cannot join in. And in many of our lifehouses for homeless men and women, sport is enabling residents to learn life skills, build relationships and regain confidence.”

Major Russell Wyles, Divisional Commander for The Salvation Army in West Scotland, said: “We are supporting our frontline community work by providing an injection of funds to help them run Commonwealth Games-related activities.”

What the corps are doing:

·    Aberdeen Torry – £700 to set up a holiday club for young people.

·    Invercairn – £1000 to set up a curling club for its senior members.

·    Kirkwall – £1000 to put on a community BBQ to welcome the Queen’s Baton passing through the town and buy sports equipment for future activity-related outreach work.

·    Oban – £600 to set up a youth club and take a group of local youngsters to Glasgow for activities coinciding with the Commonwealth Games.

·    Thurso – £1000 to buy sports equipment for outreach work.

·    Airdrie – £1200 to set up a sports club, host a Commonwealth Games party, and run theme nights and day trips.

·    Bellshill – £600 to set up a sports club and host a sports week during the Commonwealth Games.

·    Campbeltown – £1000 to set up a children’s holiday club, stage a Commonwealth Games party and host a mission team from overseas.

·    Cumbernauld – £1000 to set up a Games cafe and pay for sporting equipment.

·    Easterhouse – £1000 to run a Games community day cafe and buy sporting equipment.

·    George Steven Centre, for adults with learning difficulties – £1200 to run sport and fitness activities, buy sporting equipment and stage a sports day during the Commonwealth Games.

·    Anderston – £1000 to host a sports day for two primary schools and fund sports outreach work.

·    Kilmarnock – £600 to set up a children’s club and host a Commonwealth Games party to celebrate the opening ceremony.

·    Rutherglen – £1000 to set up a fellowship group and screen live footage of the Commonwealth Games.

·    Stranraer – £1000 to put on a community day to welcome the Queen’s Baton passing through the town.