Streetsport delivers free weekly sports and creative activity sessions for young people across Aberdeen by utilising mobile sports arena and equipment in various locations including car parks, parks and local facilities.

The funding has enabled the small charity to purchase food vouchers for families that needed them the most in Aberdeen during the pandemic and allows planning ahead to ensure its Streetsport programme can return as soon as possible in a safe and effective way.

This includes funding to purchase the correct PPE and cleaning materials to help ensure Streetsport environments are safe and clean for all staff, volunteers and participants. The charity also received additional sports kits that will help young people enjoy physical activity and wellbeing activities whist taking in consideration the distancing guidance currently in place.

In less than three months of its launch (May 1 2020) the COVID-19 Hardship Fund raised more than a quarter of a million pounds (£251,513) thanks to donations from members of the public, business people and donations of £100,000 from the Seven Incorporated Trades Widows’ Charity and £100,000 from Aberdeen City Council via the Common Good Fund.

In total 39 charities have received £251,070, supporting 5,088 individuals, 3,626 families, 1,835 children and young people, and 23,920 meals, 5,806 food parcels and 15,000 fruit packs.

Barney Crockett, The Lord Provost of Aberdeen Barney Crockett, said: “The Denis Law Legacy Trust and its Streetsport programme is a fantastic asset that serves Aberdeen well. The dedication of its staff and volunteers is clear to see and the fact they have been able to mobilise and help the Streetsport community in new ways during the pandemic is fantastic.”

David Suttie, one of the trustees of the Denis Law Legacy Trust, added: “Thanks to the Lord Provosts hardship fund the Denis Law Legacy Trust have been able to continue to support the communities we work in during this incredibly hard time, its helped us provide food vouchers to those that needed them the most and also helped prepare our Streetsport programme to become equipped and ready to resume again as soon as guidance permits.”

At a meeting earlier this month, the trustees of the Lord Provost Charitable Trust decided to end the Emergency Covid-19 Appeal on Crowdfunder, however the Trust recognises the desire of the people of Aberdeen to continue to help people in need, and will be announcing alternative means of making financial contributions soon.

Meantime any organisation or individual that would like to make a donation to the Covid-19 Appeal can email lordprovost@aberdeencity.gov.uk marking it for the attention of Garry Watson, Clerk to The Lord Provost’s Charitable Trust.