CalMac Community Fund helps introduce new sport to Uist youth

Support from ferry operator CalMac's Community Fund helped Uibhist Squais - Uist squash club - give a taste of the sport to more than 50 island young people.

The fund enabled the club to purchase equipment to run an event for students from Lionacleit school.

'The squash experience was very popular and was completely booked out. It enabled school-age children to try out the sport for the first time. CalMac support also allowed us to run weekly squash sessions on Monday evenings in conjunction with Uist Youth Café,' said Dr Conor Lawless form the club

'It enabled us to organise regular sporting opportunities during the dark and stormy winter months.'

CalMac's Community Fund drives social value by supporting non profit organisations, based in a mainland port or island the company serves, delivering projects to benefit the lives of children and young people living in west coast communities. Organisations can apply for an award between £500 to £2000.

So far the Fund has supported 76 projects from woman's football in the Outer Hebrides, to the Campbeltown Sea Cadets and a Gaelic youth club on Skye.

Each application was judged by a screening panel of young people recruited from across the company's network, in partnership with Young Scot

'This squash project on Uist delivered on a key goal of the Community Fund, opening up new opportunities and experiences for island young people that they otherwise might not have access to,' said CalMac's Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Gordon McKillop.

On neighbouring Eriskay the Community Fund has enabled a soft play facility to be set up and sustained with more than 100 children using the area.

Pictures shows: Just some of the island young people able to experience squash for the first time thanks to CalMac's Community Fund.