Ten sponsors of Aldershot Town Football Club have launched the Shots Community Partnership to raise money for local charities.
The Source Young People’s Charity, located opposite The Electrical Services Stadium on Aldershot High Street, was unanimously chosen as its first beneficiary, with a series of fundraising events throughout the year as well as donations of skills, resources and equipment.
AKM Associates, Central Heating Services, Clark Caterers, Grainger PLC, Electrical Services Southern, Hi-Speed Couriers, Knights Group, Millgrove Construction, Reade Signs and Retirement Lease Housing Association have formed the partnership, with the aim of raising £10,000 in 2014-15 alongside another £10,000 through in-kind donations.
The group will run four major events during the year, but have identified almost 20 smaller events for consideration, from quiz evenings and golf days to concerts, abseiling and even marathon runs.
A range of skills, equipment and resources are also being made available to The Source, free of charge, including computers and IT equipment, meeting rooms and work space, business mentoring, plumbing and electrical maintenance, work experience placements, furniture, accountancy and employability workshops.
The Partnership has already begun helping The Source, when Central Heating Services donated and installed a brand new Baxi Boiler worth over £2000. One 16 year-old visitor to The Source, who witnessed its installation, has now been offered two-weeks work experience with Central Heating Services, plus the chance to apply for an apprenticeship in September.
Other initiatives already underway include Reade Signs’ ‘Football Shirt Friday’ and a 10km run completed by company founder Andy Reade.
The Source meets the needs of hundreds of young people, aged between 11 and 25, across Rushmoor each year. Through their café, teen parent and mentoring programmes, anger management counselling, after-school club and detached youth work, The Source are committed to seeing young people transformed, and to operating as a centre of excellence.
Kevin Matthew, Managing Director of Central Heating Services Ltd and founder of the Shots Community Partnership, said: “As sponsors of Aldershot Town, we wanted to give something back to our community. The Football Club plays a vital role at the heart of the town, and if we, as businesses, all work together, we can generate greater support across the community, raise even more money and help more people.”
Sue Collen, Community Fundraiser at The Source, said: “It is amazing that new beginnings are already taking place, even before the launch of the Shots Community Partnership. We are so looking forward to a very long term partnership with the Aldershot Town FC business community.”
Aldershot Town Chairman, Shahid Azeem, said: “We are delighted to be the hub of this initiative, and the platform on which so much good work will be based. We wholeheartedly support the Partnership, as it shares our desire to help the local community, and wish everybody involved the best of luck with their fundraising efforts. I am certain that it will be a great success.”
The Partnership will be officially launched on Saturday 9 August, when The Source Chief Executive Adam Stacey, along with several volunteers and teenage visitors will attend The Shots first league game of the season against Altrincham.
