Bonnyrigg Rose Community Football Club have been awarded £2,500 – the highest amount available – from a fund created by supermarket giant Aldi to assist local sport and build a healthier Scotland.
Applications are open throughout the year for a share of an £8000 pot and other Lothians’ recipients include Currie Chieftains girls rugby and Castlevale YDC (both £1000), Starpic Project at West Barns Bowling Club, Murray Hunter School of Dance, Armadale Thistle 2011, Whiteadder Watersports Trust, Fidra Lions Hockey Club and Eskmuthe Rowing Club who each receive £500.
Bonnyrigg Rose run football and neurodiverse football sessions and beyond the pitch deliver an extensive community programme that focuses on inclusion, poverty, mental health and positive destinations.
This includes a lunch club for the elderly, youth groups for socially isolated children, one-to-one mental health counselling and access to crisis cash grants in partnership with Midlothian Council. The club also collaborates with organisations such as the Red Cross, Citizens Advice Bureau, community police, SFA, Vocal and Change Works to support those most in need in the community.
The club plans to use the funding from Aldi Scotland to provide new football kits for its neurodiverse team, which represents the club in the ‘Team United’ Autistic League. The team, which includes 15 players, meets every Thursday evening and is fully supported by volunteers, with no fees charged to participants. The new kits will allow players to wear the same colours as the wider Bonnyrigg Rose teams, helping them feel fully part of the club community.
Aldi Scotland introduced its Scottish Sport Fund in 2016 to support individuals of all ages and abilities to get involved in physical activity in their local communities. The past decade has seen Aldi Scotland support over 650 clubs across Scotland, donating almost £500,000, with the fund improving community access to sport across the country.
Trish Sime of Bonnyrigg Rose Community Football Club, said: “We are so grateful to have received such generous funding from Aldi Scotland.
“Our neurodiverse football sessions have a huge impact on the children who attend, helping them build confidence, social skills, and a real sense of belonging. Parents have told us how life-changing these sessions are, with children feeling accepted, understood, and excited to be part of a team. This funding will allow us to provide football kits for the team, helping all 15 players feel proud to represent Bonnyrigg Rose and reinforcing that they truly belong.”
Graham Nicolson, Group Buying Director at Aldi Scotland, said: “Since launching in 2016, the Scottish Sport Fund has supported a diverse range of clubs with vital funding to invest in much-needed equipment and resources.
“It’s inspiring to see the impact this support has on clubs like Bonnyrigg Rose Community Football Club, and how it contributes to encouraging active, healthy lifestyles in communities across Scotland.”
