The Albyn

December 2023: Issue 2

A Little About us

Broxburn United Sports Club (BUSC) play an important role in the local community, providing a safe and social sporting environment for a number of sports clubs and teams as well as a venue for a wide range of activities and events.

We create opportunities to develop skills, maximise potential and widen social circles.

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Our Mission

Making lives better through sport, education & brining people together.

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Top Stories This Month

Sporting Memories

Broxburn Athletic FC have teamed up with Broxburn United Sports Club to offer free attendance to the club’s Sporting Memories classes. The charity and social enterprise was launched in 2010 with the Broxburn club being formed last year.

They help older people to reminisce and reconnect through the power of sport and support a wide range of people aged 50 and over who are living with dementia, depression or facing social isolation and loneliness, with the aim of making a positive difference to their lives.

“We support older people who are socially isolated or have long-term health conditions and use sport to get them out the house and along to their local clubs. “It allows us to engage people who are maybe a bit disengaged from their community

“The cameraderie that builds up in these classes is brilliant and it can often be the only couple of hours they maybe have in a social environment. They make friendships and enjoy themselves and that’s so important.”

“We often have a physical element too, such as boccia, archery and table tennis, so it’s not just coming in and having a chat over a cup of tea and a biscuit, although that aspect is hugely important as well.”

One member who regularly attends is Tom Crookston, who journeys in from West Calder to Albyn Park every Wednesday for 10.30am.

The 84-year-old spoke about how vital the club has been to him since he first joined, and urged others to join.

He said: “It’s now become such a huge part of my life and it’s such an important thing for the elderly to have groups like these.

“I was introduced to the club by a friend called John Meikle who unfortunately passed away a few months ago. He was one of the founding members and played such a huge role in bringing people together.

“For a person of my age, it’s a really good thing and it’s important that people know the club is here. I live on my own after my wife passed away 10 years ago and loneliness is a terrible thing.

“Some people can go out and mix easily but I don’t so coming to the club and making it part of my weekly routine has been brilliant. The social aspect of it is vital and Donna and the guys who run the club are tremendous.”

Broxburn Athletic midfielder Lewis Turner added: “It’s a great initiative and so important that the club plays this sort of role within the community.

“I’m sure the boys will be more than happy to give up a couple of hours on a Wednesday when they can and pop along to the classes.”

Trip to Kenya

Last month one of our Sports Leaders Eilidh Howard went to Kenya to help support some of the local children.

Here is what se had to say.

I had an amazing time. It was an experience I will never forget. The smiles on the kids faces as we walked up with football strips, stationery and toys honestly made my day, and really tugged at the heart strings. One of the teachers explained how big an impact all of the things we donated will have on the kids lives, just the small things that we take for granted everyday. One of the wee friends I made actually cried out of happiness and gratefulness when I gave her my trainers.

The safari was another crazy experience. We saw so many animals close up. I even got to clap a rhino. Sleeping under canvas and being told to shine our torch before getting out our tent to check there is no reflections from any eyes which would most likely be a hyena, lion or hippo was slightly worrying, but we lived to tell the tale. Just as we were getting in our tents we heard 2 male lions fighting for territory no more the 200 yards away😵‍💫

Just wanted to say a MASSIVE THANK YOU to everyone who bought brownies to donate or just donated, money, football strips or stationery. All of it helped the kids in some way and I couldn’t have gone without you. Also to the adults who took us and made the experience what it was.

Mission Christmas

Christmas for every child. That's our mission.Times are so tough right now. The cost of living crisis, plus the lingering...

Broxburn Athletic Colts, are looking to support Mission Christmas and are looking for your support.

Thousands of children are living in poverty. So many are at risk of waking up without presents to open because Christmas is a luxury their families can't afford. It'll be just like any other day. But Mission Christmas is here to make a difference.

If you have anything you wish to donate and help support local family's please feel free to drop off at the Albyn.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Broxburn Athletic Colts