Housebuilder’s donation helps keep local athletics club a runaway success

Brian Pahlmann

A £1,000 donation from the CALA Homes community bursary initiative has helped Aberdeen Amateur Athletic Club to continue providing athletic sessions to children across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

The programme, aimed at children aged seven to 13, provides free professional athletics coaching and fun ways to become more physically active. The sessions have also been expanded to cater for children with disabilities.

The funding will help cover costs such as facilities hire, and new sporting and first aid equipment. It will also be used to help recruit and train coaching volunteers.

Club manager Brian Pahlmann said, “Since our establishment in 1952, the Aberdeen Amateur Athletic Club has always taken pride in providing people of all ages with the ability to enjoy athletics. We regularly hold events and competitions and have even trained Olympic competitors, such as Zoey Clark who competed in Tokyo 2020. With our new satellite coaching sessions programme, we’re looking to extend our support to the very heart of the communities that need it.

“As a result of the pandemic, there’s been a significant decline in physical activity for children in some of the most deprived areas in Scotland, so it’s never been more important to provide this extra help. It’s thanks to the kind donation from CALA Homes and its community bursary grant, that we have the necessary funding to continue these sessions throughout the year and help the children of Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire enjoy a healthy and active lifestyle.”

Mike Naysmith, MD at CALA Homes (North), added, “Seeing youngsters across the region enjoying sessions organised by the Aberdeen Amateur Athletic Club is exactly what we hope to achieve through our community bursary. We hope that the funding provided can help to promote an active way for children to have fun and possibly discover a love for the sport.”