Social Mission
Our Story
What is the social enterprise
Kirsty Gilmour, David Gilmour, Jill Smith and Andy Gallagher have founded Badminton Academy Social Enterprise C.I.C. (BASE for short)
Key aspects are:
- Not for profit
- Inclusive (Open to all members of society)
- Integrated (Working with the local community, other Charitable organisations, Schools, Scottish Badminton, Lanarkshire Badminton, Councils, SportScotland).
- Focussed on grass roots to try to capture some of the large badminton playing public membership.
- Pathways that are accessible and appropriate that flow to Elite level for some participants.
What do we hope to achieve?
- To help communities especially when coming out of the pandemic
- Create a legacy for Kirsty’s career
- To create an inclusive, safe environment for all in the form of a commercially viable badminton club
- Set up a dedicated space for badminton with specific focus on local communities and grass roots participation for all.
- Promote key messages in partnership with other organisations. Some of the initial projects close to our hearts are:
- Women in Sport
- Mental health and wellbeing with SAMH
- Physical wellbeing
Who are we targeting?
- Main target will be grass roots players. Schools will be a massive part of our engagement plans.
- Local communities - We are working with the communities to identify their own specific needs and we will then work with them on solutions. This may not be a badminton related solution.
- Pathways - The club will also have a pathway that will cater for different individual's needs all the way up to elite level.
- Social - We want the dedicated space to feel like home, a fun and safe environment where people feel free to come and just mess around on the court for a while.
- Family - We want to attract the whole family to BASE. Badminton is a fantastic sport with no age limits. We want Grandparents hitting with their grandchildren for example.
How does this link with Badminton Scotland’s work with clubs?
Thanks to Keith Russell (CEO at BS) this whole effort is being carried out hand in hand with Badminton Scotland. We are basically lining up our strategy alongside Badminton Scotland which is then aligned alongside Sport Scotland. Badminton Scotland’s Regional Development Officer Euan Murray and Head of Engagement Nicky Watterson have been embedded in the project from the start helping us with all aspects of the journey. We will be an affiliated club working through Badminton Scotland’s Shuttlemark Club & SIDC Accreditation.
Quotes
David Gilmour – to link Badminton Scotland and social enterprise
“As Chair of Badminton Scotland I was interested to know first-hand the challenges that would face a club trying to establish themselves in a way that grows the grass root levels of the sport whilst helping the community in which it serves. As this is a key part of Badminton Scotland and indeed Sport Scotland strategy it is easy to see how our experience can be easily shared across the wider badminton and sporting community. I see this almost as a joint venture with the governing body supporting us to create a successful club and perhaps using this as a pilot project from which we can share best practice”
Kirsty Gilmour - on why it’s important for her to give back
“I have gained so much from my involvement with badminton and was always intending on giving back but the pandemic has emphasised the struggles we are facing in society and so I thought this was the right time to try and create something that can help communities and the sport.
BASE is for everyone. It’s possible to make badminton completely accessible. We want to have an organised space that’s really safe and fun for anyone who wants to come in and mess around all the way up to the young professional. The main focus will be on communities and everyone from mums and toddlers right up to whatever age you still feel you can hit a shuttle, over 80s, over 90s? age is no barrier”