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Please meet Matthew who was awarded a Postal Family Fund Rising Stars bursary. Matthew is one of the youngest players ever to play in the National Ice Hockey League Division 1. We spoke to his dad Brian about how the bursary has impacted the family.
Why did you apply for the Postal Family Fund bursary?
As a minority sport, ice hockey in the UK is not well funded and all expenses are covered by families. As an ex-player and ice hockey coach, it was clear to me when Matt started his ice hockey journey, that he had a commitment and determination over and above your average 7-year-old and this commitment has never wavered. He set himself three goals when he first started playing- to establish himself in Billingham Junior Stars Ice Hockey Squad; to represent his country; and to be selected and eventually play for the Billingham Stars Senior Squad.
When we applied for the Rising Star Bursary, we were on the hunt locally for businesses that could support Matt financially on his journey around the rinks of the north of England, and beyond. Unfortunately, Matt must travel 60 miles per session to play for his team, as there is no team locally in Sunderland. So, securing local funding was quite difficult and we thought we would give the Postal Family Fund a try and we have never looked back. Their financial contributions to Matt’s costs have been a huge help to his development. Seeing him develop as a player, as a person, as a teammate and a role model to our younger players has been a privilege and one that Postal Family Fund has played a huge part in.
Delighted to say all three goals have now been achieved. He is one of the youngest players to ever play in the National Ice Hockey League Division 1 – and now we push on as he develops into a senior player.
What impact has the bursary had?
The bursary has meant we haven’t had to worry about pulling out large sums of money for protective equipment, for the 7 round trips to Cambridge or Sheffield with overnight stays for England Camp training or when he got an England Call up at U15’s to play in Tilburg in the Netherlands. Then the Postal Family Fund stepped in and helped with his flights and accommodation costs. Without the Postal Family Fund, this journey would have been so much harder.
What would you like to say to other postal workers thinking about applying for a Rising Star bursary?
Absolutely, 100% put in an application. The process is simple, the whole team are sympathetic to anyone’s situation and their unwavering support of postal families is commendable. On behalf of Matt, we would like to thank the board of trustees and everyone on the Postal Family Fund team who have been on this journey with us.
