Kai with his latest batch of 3D-printed fidget toys and some of the money raised so far. Pic: Alan Coutts.
An Angus 11-year-old is so thankful to the autism-friendly rugby project he attends that he’s been raising money for the charity behind it by making and selling fidget toys with his dad’s 3D printer.
Kai Coutts (11), from Edzell, has taken part in the autism-friendly rugby for primary pupils project at Strathmore Community Rugby Trust in Forfar since 2019.
He gets so much from taking part that he was wondering late last year how he could give something back to the trust as thanks.
Idea
When his dad, Alan, got a 3D printer before Christmas and printed him a fidget toy, it gave Kai the idea that if he liked them so much his pals at Edzell Primary would too.
So, with help from his dad, he picked designs online, printed some and “hounded” the school to agree to let him sell them at its Valentines disco.
Between mid-January and February 14, Kai daily printed several types in different colours, including a shark to represent Strathmore RFC’s youth Sharks team, and sold 41 at £2 each.
More orders
Since then pupils have been asking him for more, so he’s been producing them to order as well as selling ones left from previous batches.
Kai’s also sold more at Strathmore Rugby Club events, including its recent Ladies Day, to bring his fundraising total to date to £111. He says he’s overjoyed with that and grateful to his school for helping him ensure his orders and money are correct.
More sales planned
Kai plans to keep selling the toys in person at the rugby club as well as giving some to the club to sell on his behalf.
Community Trust Manager, Maggie Lawrie, said: “We are so grateful to Kai and his family for supporting the trust with this fundraiser because, as a charity, we pride ourselves in offering an inclusive environment for our community by investing time and resource into ensuring our coaches have the right knowledge and skills to support people to participate and stay involved.
“This takes time and money. Sadly, investment from previous sources is becoming more difficult to come by, so fundraisers like this play a vital role in helping us reduce barriers to participation within our projects. Thank you Kai, we really appreciate your support!”
Kai’s dad, Alan, says: “We are super-proud of Kai for doing this and for feeling he had to do it as he’d gained so much from the trust events and wanted to do his bit to make sure the trust could keep doing it for other people who need these kind of sessions and facilities.”
The trust was founded in 2017 to increase public participation in sport, particularly rugby union and rugby league, in the Forfar, Kirriemuir and Brechin areas to benefit community health and wellbeing as well as develop young people into healthy, positive members of the community through the positive ethos and values of rugby.
It works in partnership with Strathmore RFC, Brechin RFC, sportscotland, Scottish Rugby, Scotland Rugby League and Sporting Memories and had its activities recognised at the Scottish Charity Awards with the Pioneering Project Award in 2020 for its ASD rugby for primary children project. The trust’s Royal Patron is HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and Earl of Forfar.
To donate to the trust, or take part in one of its projects, go to its website www.strathmoretrust.co.uk