• At Willies we are incredibly proud to be part of the ice hockey, inline hockey, and figure skating community. Supporting the growth of these sports and the people involved in them is something we genuinely care about. 

    Over the years, we’ve been fortunate to work with clubs, teams, academies, charities, grassroots programmes, events, and individuals who are doing fantastic things within the sport and wider community. 

    As a result, we receive a very high number of requests each month for: 

    • Team sponsorships   
    • Individual athlete sponsorships   
    • International travel support   
    • Charity donations   
    • Fundraising contributions   
    • Raffle and auction prizes   
    • Event sponsorships   
    • Community initiatives   

    While we would truly love to support every worthwhile cause, as a small independent family business we have a limited annual budget and resources available for sponsorships and donations. 

    Because of this, we carefully assess every application we receive to ensure any support we provide creates the widest possible positive impact within the hockey and skating community. 

    In most cases, priority is given to initiatives that: 

    • Benefit larger groups, teams, clubs, or communities   
    • Encourage grassroots participation and youth development   
    • Promote long-term growth of the sport   
    • Deliver accessible opportunities for players and skaters   
    • Have a clear charitable or community-focused purpose   
    • Align with our company values and available budget   

    Unfortunately, this means we are generally unable to support: 

    • Individual sponsorship requests   
    • International travel, tours, or competition expenses   
    • Personal training or equipment costs   
    • Last-minute funding requests   
    • Requests unrelated to Ice hockey, inline hockey, or figure skating   

    This is not a reflection on the quality, dedication, or importance of the individual opportunity.  

    Many of the requests we receive are incredibly deserving. However, with limited resources available, we have to prioritise initiatives where the impact can be shared more broadly across the community. 

    We appreciate that fundraising and organising events takes significant effort, and we are genuinely grateful to everyone who thinks of us when seeking support. 

    Submitting a request does not guarantee sponsorship or donation support, and due to the high volume of enquiries we may not always be able to respond individually to every application. 

    Thank you for your understanding and for everything you do to support and grow our sports community. 

    Frequently Asked Questions:

    Do you sponsor teams, clubs, or organisations? 

    We don’t offer sponsorship in the traditional sense. As many of our customers are involved with teams, clubs, and organisations, it isn’t practical for us to support everyone individually. Instead, we focus on opportunities that deliver the greatest overall benefit to the wider community within our means. That said, we do prioritise working with clubs that actively support and promote our business. 

    Do you sponsor individual athletes? 

    We are rarely able to provide sponsorship to individual athletes. Due to the high volume of requests and our limited budget, we prioritise opportunities that deliver wider benefits to the hockey and skating community. 

    Do you provide support for international travel or competitions? 

    Unfortunately, we are not able to offer funding or sponsorship for international travel, overseas competitions, tours, or related expenses. 

    Do you donate raffle or auction prizes? 

    Occasionally, yes. Subject to availability and budget, we may provide raffle prizes, vouchers, or event support—particularly for community-focused or sport-related events, or for clubs that actively support and promote our business. 

    How are applications assessed? 

    Each request is reviewed individually and assessed based on factors such as: 

    • Community impact 
    • Number of people benefiting 
    • Alignment with our sports and values 
    • Promotional and community value 
    • Available budget and existing commitments 

    Does submitting an application guarantee support? 

    No. Due to the high volume of requests we receive, we’re unable to support every application. 

    How far in advance should I apply? 

    We recommend submitting your request at least 4–6 weeks in advance of your event or funding deadline wherever possible. 

    Can I follow up on my request? 

    Due to the volume of enquiries we receive, we may not always be able to provide individual updates or detailed feedback on unsuccessful applications. We kindly ask that multiple requests for the same organisation or opportunity are not submitted. 

    Why was my request declined? 

    Many of the applications we receive are worthwhile and deserving. However, as a small family-run business with limited resources, we have to prioritise requests where our support will have the greatest overall benefit within the community. 

    Do purchases from your store help support the community?

    Absolutely. Every purchase helps us continue supporting Ice hockey, Inline Hockey and figure skating through partnerships, events, team support, and community initiatives whenever possible.