The Swindon Wildcats have begun their playoff assault against local rivals Bracknell in a group that sees them also pitched against Slough and Milton Keynes.

Whilst the Wildcats continue to achieve results on the ice the club have made great strides in developing strong links with the local community.

Steve Nell, General Manager of the club is satisfied with the progress being made. "I am really proud of our involvement with the many people and institutions across Swindon.

There is no doubt the time and money we are investing to tempt a new generation of fans is working successfully. As a club we have been far too modest by not heavily publicising our involvement with the Swindon community." He said.

A few examples of the Wildcats pro active approach:

Specsavers Kidzone - Cash Back

This season the Wildcats have visited 34 schools and clubs in and around Swindon speaking to over 10,000 children. More than 3000 kids and parents have attended games; as a result the club have pumped £2500 back to the local schools.

Specsavers Learn to Skate Programme

Every week 180 children learn to skate with Wildcats head coach Peter Russell and other Wildcat team members. The sessions are crucial in enhancing the grass roots participation of Ice Hockey in Swindon and has been fully supported by Link Centre staff and Swindon Borough Council.

Wildcats Roadshows

The Wildcats are now planning to transport equipment to local schools which will allow children to be coached with hockey sticks and balls in the playground or sports halls.

With an innovative off ice programme in full swing the Wildcats can also today confirm they have an exciting new opportunity for a principal sponsor. The 2007/08 campaign will be the final season in which they will enjoy the privilege of having npower, one of the nation's leading energy companies, as their Principal and Title sponsors.

Following a long and highly successful affiliation with the Ice Hockey in Swindon, npower has advised the Club that it is their intent not to further extend their role as head sponsor.

"We are immensely grateful for the contributions from npower since we've been back as the Wildcats - as our predecessors were when the company was lead sponsor of the Club" said Club Director, Steve Nell.

"It is extremely rare in sport to have enjoyed such a sponsorship over that period of time and, whilst it's sad to lose them as a title sponsor, we look forward to continuing our relationship with them as a sponsor on a smaller scale next season."

Andy Duff, Chief Executive Officer of RWE npower, said, "We are extremely proud to have been the main sponsor of the Swindon Wildcats and their predecessors for so many years.  However, following a review of all of our sponsorship activities, we have reached the difficult decision to make 2007/08 the final season as main sponsors of the Club.  We will, however, continue to buy a ticket allocation for the upcoming season, to enable our employees to carry on supporting the Club, and we wish the Wildcats every success for the future."

The Club is now actively sourcing new sponsors and according to Nell there has been no better time to be associated with the sport in Swindon.

'Ice Hockey in Swindon is working. We are planning a number of additional community programmes linking up with local partners. The crowd figures are steadily growing and our average attendance this season has reached over 850. Our last four games have seen four figure crowds whilst our most recent game against Guildford attracted 1200 people' he said.

If any school are interested in becoming part of the communitty programme they should e-mail Dawn Dolphin at dawn.dolphin@swindonwildcats.com,"