Corstorphine Dynamo aim to achieve charity status and continue community outreach projects

Amateur football club Corstorphine Dynamo is seeking charity status after experiencing success with community outreach projects.

The club took over a debilitated hub at South Gyle Park and turned it into their home as well as a space for the community to use for a variety of activities.

But ever since the pandemic struck the club has tried to be versatile in supporting various causes that they feel are important to the area.

This led to the club organising a host of projects for both players and their supporters to become involved with.

A picture of Corstorphine Dynamo's hub

And in a recent video produced by the Scottish Amateur Football Association, Aaron Moffat, club chairman, speaks of “trying to use football as a power for good.”

He said: “At the start of lockdown we didn't realise how long it would be and began to worry about players losing interest and fitness dropping off. We tried to think of how we could keep players fit but also support the NHS with shortages of face masks and other vital equipment. So we came up with the #Dynamo2Dresden2DynamoBrest virtual run and raised over £1,000 for the Edinburgh and Lothians Health board.”

The club also launched a Christmas foodbank appeal and raised over £750 and filled seven trollies full of supplies for the Edinburgh Food Project.

David Whelan, the club’s community outreach officer, said: “We successfully launched our first annual foodbank drive through social media this Christmas. The local community as well those affiliated with the club were absolutely fantastic. We managed to get food to people right before Christmas when folk needed it most.

St John’s ambulance service and the city defibrillator project fit defibrillator

“During lockdown we have also successfully managed to have a defibrillator installed at the hub thanks to the St John’s ambulance service and the city defibrillator project.”

The club is hoping to grow and believe that football is the most vital tool for communicating with residents in their local community.

It hopes to achieve charity status later this year which will help with funding for several projects that they have lined up.

Aaron added: “We are trying to build up the community engagement and have been working on a few projects during lockdown.

“There is a hope that we can launch Dynamo F.I.T sessions that will look to organise training and games for people with a BMI of over 28.

"Dynamo will also be launching a walking football team at the five-a-side pitch at the Gyle Park once restrictions allow it. The launch of a Dinky Dynamo Soccer School for young players is also on the horizon.

“We have a number of other projects up our sleeves that we hope to unveil soon and would like to encourage anyone who is interested in coaching with the club to get in touch as we aim to expand this year.”

The club thanked all of those that have supported the club including the National Lottery Community Grants Fund, the West Edinburgh Neighbourhood work and Tesco bags for life who have donated much needed funds to improve the clubs hub.

If anyone wishes to find out more information on becoming a coach or to get involved in community campaigns should visit: corstorphinedynamo.co.uk

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