Issue 13 Capital Clubs November 2009 The Newsletter for Edinburgh’s Sports Clubs ClubSportEdinburgh sign the Pledge ClubSportEdinburgh became the first Edinburgh theatrical and cultural communities across sports organisation to sign up for the new Access to Edinburgh. Sport and Culture Pledge. Councillor Deidre Brock, Culture and Leisure Chairman Douglas Adamson announced that “Sport Convenor, also added “The Pledge is an excellent way is an integral part of community spirit and its rich his- of showing our shared commitment to making sport tory is a major influence in our shared popular culture. and culture as accessible as possible for all Edinburgh By signing up to The Pledge local sports clubs will be residents. We’ve already had some very positive feed- able to contribute and make connections with other back with a number of organisations signing up and groups in ways that may never have been considered in I’m sure we’ll see even more coming on board in the the past. The Pledge is a commitment to Edinburgh and coming weeks.” sports clubs will be looking forward to working with Several city clubs including Edinburgh Wolves other groups to help improve participation and help American Football, Portobello Rugby and Polonia make everyone in Edinburgh active and involved in Phoenix Basketball have also signed up and it is their city community.” hoped many other clubs will link in to this exciting ClubSportEdinburgh pledged to encourage clubs to new initiative that already includes major arts and come together and share resources with both fellow cultural players such as The Edinburgh Partnership, sports clubs and organisations within the arts, Scottish Arts Council and Theatre Workshop. To find out how to sign up for the Pledge go to www.clubsportedinburgh.org Creating Community Links and the associated player appear- ances), and they generated goodwill (with thousands of schoolchildren learning about rugby). So, as can be seen, community activation works. The key to any activity within the com- munity is to make them all relevant to both Parties – everybody must win. A school visit that gives children an insight into life as a professional, that shows a healthy lifestyle or gives a message of how to improve quality of life – through education of alcohol or food for example – is going to mean that the message of “come to our game” is more likely to be sup- ported. A sports club has so much to offer its local community – hence why so many are successful in working within that community. In order to build a club’s support for into the com- The final piece the long term, it is important that at munities that of good news on the very least it embraces its local com- support them. community activation munity. One of Edinburgh Rugby’s is that, often, funding streams are Edinburgh Rugby undertake goals is that it becomes “important” available to the sports club or the a large number of activities designed to the local community. If this is associate partner who are undertaking to work with, for and in support of achieved, then the fans of the future, the work. Increasingly the corporate the Edinburgh community. Player the passionate supporter base, the world is using social responsibility as appearances, club allocations, school cheering crowd that follows the team a core spend (vs sponsorship of old), assemblies, hospital visits, ticket dona- over land and sea – they are all created whilst governments (local, national tions, competition judging . the list – meaning your long-term future is and global) set aside funds to support goes on. Edinburgh completed over bright. Community has become an a wide range of community activities. 1,000 player appearances in the 2008/9 important word in sports marketing So if you do it well – you fund your season – each of which was designed in recent times. But communities have club. to step-build the support for the club always played an important role in and to develop relationships that will If you want to see Edinburgh Rugby the development of teams – it’s just in help to sustain our long-term growth. stars in action - they take on Bath on recent times that the marketers have These visits generated good PR for the Saturday 19th December, kick off at cottoned on to it!! Now community club (a back page of the local news- 1.35pm – discounts are available if marketing is huge right across the paper with players at a local school). you buy in advance. Buy the Club’s globe with all successful clubs working They generated attendance at games AnyGame vouchers from tirelessly to deliver a huge range of (with local rugby clubs offered ticket www.edinburghrugby.org or by initiatives that “put something back” initiatives to support the relationship telephone on 0131 346 5180. Capital Clubs – The Newsletter for Edinburgh’s Sports Clubs – Capital Clubs – The Newsletter for Edinburgh’s Sports Clubs Capital Clubs – The Newsletter for Edinburgh’s Sports Clubs – Capital Clubs – The Newsletter for Edinburgh’s Sports Clubs Lothian Thistle FC Hutchison Vale FC Community Club to the Community Club with an appropriate Constitution already been drawn up and agreed. Lothian Thistle Football Club will run the Senior, Amateur, and the over 35’s teams whilst Hutchison Vale Football Club will run all the Youth sides and the women’s senior team. The existing Lothian Thistle under 19 senior team will play under the name of the new Community Club and both clubs will at all times support the other in related football matters. Lothian Thistle will have the use of Saughton Enclosure on Saturdays and midweek as and when required Following extensive discussions and football in the west of Edinburgh that and their under 19 senior team and Hutchison Vale ladies will play their negotiations, involving the Scottish will involve the local community in a games at the enclosure on Sundays. Football Association City of Edin- safe environment and offer a pathway burgh Council and other invited par- from youth to senior football. In addition to the Scottish Football As- ties, two of Edinburgh’s most respected sociation, both the City of Edinburgh and established football clubs are A Community Club Executive Com- Council and Edinburgh Leisure are in coming together to form community mittee will be formed to organise and full support of this Community Club club. Their aim is to foster and develop support the smooth transition through initiative. L’art du chi Club “L’art du chi” under the direction of activity which combines physical Laurent Haquin, has been offering Tai discipline and mental focus to achieve Chi Chuan and Chi work in Edin- a state of well being. burgh for over twenty years. During Different people will, of course, have that time the experience gained in different needs and motivations and teaching a wide range of people, work- so the same techniques need to be ing in different settings and looking considerably adaptable to be relevant at how to address various needs, has to all these people. Tai chi, being by highlighted the unique contribution its very nature fluid and changing, these physical and energetic arts can lends itself to doing just that. People make to peoples’ lives. involved in vigorous sport routines and improving balance and mobility Whether your goal is in seeking a might, for instance, benefit from seek- alongside the actual physical training. more balanced lifestyle, improving ing to minimize the impact of their “L’art du chi” offers regular taster mental or physical performance in a activities on their musculo-skeletal sessions, or you might simply wish to professional or leisure activity, learn- system, through careful monitoring of contact us at: ing to deal with stress or engaging in their posture and fine coordination. a meaningful activity, this work can Some forms of cross-training could Tel: 0131 6691804, help. We are often told by members also include improving mental focus, Email: [email protected] how much they value practising an or developing one’s breathing capacity Web: www.art-of-chi.co.uk Capital Clubs – The Newsletter for Edinburgh’s Sports Clubs – Capital Clubs – The Newsletter for Edinburgh’s Sports Clubs Capital Clubs – The Newsletter for Edinburgh’s Sports Clubs – Capital Clubs – The Newsletter for Edinburgh’s Sports Clubs Your team could train with the Pros Active Schools link up with Carlton Cricket Club Carlton Cricket is the latest Edinburgh club to develop links with local primary schools. Active School coordinator Gael Logan has been working with the club and Edinburgh’s’ Cricket Development Officer Gordon Drummond over the past few terms to develop cricket in South Morningside and Sciennes primary schools and it has been really successful, so far. Gordon, who was recently appointed captain of the Scottish National team, told Capital Clubs "Active Schools At Hearts Education and Com- services to have been very supportive in trying to munity Trust we look to provide help pass help develop junior cricket at Carlton the surrounding communities with on their assistance by allowing access to the knowledge Cricket Club. They have been involved facilities and resources we have as a and in the planning and organising of professional football club. profes- taster, after school and summer cricket sional experience programs run by the club, Our Club Development Programme to the local community. promoting the sport is designed to provide players with a of Cricket at every professional training session under Sessions with former players can opportunity. This the guidance of our Community again be booked on a regular basis or Coach Paul Greig. During the session as a single session. year our club junior we plan to communicate with section has increased We can also offer a variety of other coaching staff, so they can further its numbers in which programmes to local clubs in the develop their game and gain valuable our partnership with form of: knowledge from the session.