Sir Ian encourages the business community to get in the game

Aberdeen industrialist Sir Ian Wood will meet some of the city’s most disadvantaged youngsters today (Tuesday, August 12) to find out first hand how the business community is helping improve their lives through sport.

Sir Ian will join a group of teenagers from Fersands who are gearing up to take part in the 2008 Community Sports Challenge, an annual event organised by Scottish Business in the Community (SBC) Grampian, a charity which supports businesses in Scotland who are committed to improving their positive impact on society and the environment. 

Working with the corporate events group activitymix, SBC designed the Challenge to encourage local businesses to join forces in helping disadvantaged youngsters become more involved in sports.

Open to young people aged between 12-16, it allows children from some of the city’s most deprived areas to experience a range of activities not easily accessible to them, to make new friends and break down barriers between communities. Now in its fourth year, the Challenge has been able to provide diversionary activities for the youngsters – particularly on a Friday night which is the worst night for anti-social behaviour in the city.

This year, the team from Fersands will join youngsters from Middlefield, Northfield, Kaimhill, Mastrick, Tillydrone and Kincorth to test their skills at sports ranging from touch rugby, lawn bowling and football to golf, basketball and even climbing during the event which runs from September 2 to October 12.

Sir Ian is chairman of the Wood Family Trust, a charitable trust which launched last year with the aim of investing £50million over the next decade in charitable activities, one of which is developing young people in Scotland.

“The Wood Family Trust is investing over three years in this initiative as we believe the Sports Challenge has very positive and instant benefits for those young people taking part in terms of teaching them about the importance of sportsmanship, setting and achieving personal goals and also learning how to work as a team,” said Sir Ian.

“In the long term, these qualities will help them develop the necessary skills to become productive members of the community and hopefully inspire them to go on and achieve greater things in the future.

“As a group, the business community has a vested interest in encouraging the next generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders and providing them with the encouragement and belief that with practice, hard work and determination they can accomplish anything.”

SBC Grampian Manager Alex Gauld said: “Developing an interest in sport is not only important to the long-term health and fitness of our young people, but by participating in events such as this, it also provides a chance for them to broaden their learning and development opportunities.

“While financial support is needed, what makes a big difference to these youngsters is when people find the time to take an interest in what they are doing and cheer them on from the sidelines. For many of our young people, they’ve never experienced encouragement or support like this so it makes a huge difference to their lives.”

The 2008 Sports Challenge is supported by a number of organisations including Maersk Oil North Sea (UK) Ltd, OPITO – The Oil & Gas Academy, Aramark, Wood Group, First Bus, The Russell Trust, Grampian Health Board, The Wood Family Trust, John Lewis, Loftus Signs, PSN, North East Rig Out (NERO) and Grampian Police.

For information on how you can get involved contact Alex Gauld on 07717 200472.