Port of Cromarty Firth gets Alness kicking with £2,000 donation
The Alness Taekwondo Academy has been given a major funding boost by the Port of Cromarty Firth (PoCF) which will allow them to travel across the country to compete.
A donation of £2,000 from the Port’s Community Sponsorship Programme will help the Alness Taekwondo Academy to travel to competitions and to fund new tracksuits for their members.
The club is one of a number of organisations and projects to benefit from the latest round of funding from the programme, which aims to safeguard and develop Cromarty Firth communities, for the benefit of local people.
Alness Taekwondo Academy founder, Andrew O’Hare said: “On behalf of the academy, I would like to thank the Port of Cromarty Firth for their significant contribution which will go towards team tracksuits and travel costs. We are all very grateful and delighted to receive this funding, it’s great to see local business supporting local community-based clubs and has boosted our team spirit in the club.
“Our Academy gives the local community an opportunity to develop valuable life skills through martial arts training which improves physical and mental health. We are proud to provide martial training to 17 talented students and we hope to continue growing over the coming months.”
Founded in 2019, the Alness Taekwondo Academy offers training to children and adults on Tuesday & Thursday evening as well as occasional weekend sessions, gradings and competitions.
PoCF Chief Executive, Bob Buskie, said: “The Port takes great pride in seeing the fantastic work that our Community Sponsorship Programme enables others to carry out within the community.
“The Taekwondo Academy is based in Alness but also attracts participants from other communities that border the Cromarty Firth. It delivers positive benefits to students including improved fitness, health & well-being and is exactly the type of project we are looking to support.”
One per cent of the PoCF’s annual surplus is channelled into the Community Sponsorship Programme.
Community projects, schools or local charities based in one of the nine communities that border the Cromarty Firth are welcome to apply for support.
They can do so by submitting an application form stating the project’s objectives, aspirations and the benefits to the community, along with a letter/email of support from their local Community Council.
Projects must be collaborative and meet one of four eligibility criteria:
- Skills development, employability or job creation,
- Vessel crew or passenger support,
- Environmental protection or enhancement,
- Events or projects which encourage inter-community collaboration,
Application forms are available on the Port of Cromarty Firth website or from cfpa@cfpa.co.uk.
