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ICoTA Europe announces support of Russell Anderson Foundation to Transform Young Lives Through Sport

ICoTA Europe is proud to announce its charity of the year is the Russell Anderson Foundation, a transformative Aberdeen-based charity that's changing children's lives through the power of sport and community engagement.

Founded by former professional footballer Russell Anderson, the Foundation has become a beacon of hope in socially deprived areas of Aberdeen, delivering remarkable impact through its innovative sports-based programmes. The charity's impressive reach is evident in its numbers: over 2,300 weekly participants, 302 weekly coaching hours across 12 schools, and an incredible 24 million steps taken by children each week.

Beyond physical activity, the Foundation has become a vital community lifeline, providing over 23,600 food items and 1,620 packed lunches to families in need. Their commitment to developing future leaders is demonstrated through their successful Young Leaders programme, which has already empowered 98 young people.

“The ICoTA Committee propose and vote for a charity each year. We selected the Russell Anderson Foundation not just for their impressive track record, but for their measurable impact on young lives in our community," said Richard Innes, Senior Chair of ICoTA Europe. "Their approach to creating sustainable improvements in children's health and wellbeing resonates with our mission to support the next generation. By partnering with a local charity, our members can see firsthand how their contributions are transforming lives right here in the North East."

Commenting on behalf of the charity, Louise Douglas, Business Development and Funraising Manager said "The Russell Anderson Foundation are delighted to have been selected as ICoTA charity of the year. We are very much looking forward to working alongside the team and sharing more of what the Foundation does day to day. There is so much value to these sort of partnerships as they allow those involved to be part of and see the impact their efforts are making in the everyday lives of local children. We are looking forward to the year ahead with the ICoTA team."

ICoTA Europe will integrate charitable giving into all major events throughout 2025, including Lunch and Learns, Golf Outings, and their annual Conference. The organization has committed to fund the Technical Lunch and Learn series, asking only that attendees make a modest charitable contribution in return.

The Foundation's success stems from its core values of positivity, collaboration, trust, and honesty – principles that resonate deeply with ICoTA Europe's own organizational values. Their embedded presence in local communities has resulted in consistently high participation and inclusion rates, making them a trusted partner in community development.

During 2025, ICoTA Europe aims to help the Foundation continue its vital work in transforming young lives and creating stronger, healthier communities across Aberdeen.