Big Lottery Fund helps Black Isle pupils’ sporting aims come true.

It has been ‘jolly hockey sticks’ all round for a Highland Primary School whose primary 7 pupils wanted to set up an after school hockey club.

Thanks to a £1,825 grant from the Big Lottery Fund the pupils and parents of Tore Primary School have been successfully running a hockey club at their school. They have also helped their neighbours, North Kessock Primary school to set up their own club so that they would have some competition to practise with.

Audrey Buchanan, Head Teacher at Tore Primary said: “We now run a hockey club every Thursday after school with at least 16 pupils attending regularly and we took part in our first tournament in Inverness and are about to take part in a second on the Black Isle.

“Fourteen children attend the Tore club every week, supported by two parent helpers. We are grateful to the Big Lottery Fund which was used to pay for a hockey coach, Martin Gent; transport to festivals and equipment.

She added: “The feedback from pupils has been really positive. It has also given the parents an opportunity to be more involved as they volunteer every week, participated in the tournament and have even been brushing up on their own hockey skills. We hope that some parents will eventually be trained to take over the club sessions.”

“It has really helped to bring the school and the community together, and to get more girls involved in sporting activity.”
The Big Lottery Fund distributes half of the National Lottery good cause funding across the UK. The Fund is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need.