Aberdeen FC Community Trust (AFCCT) is strengthening its commitment to supporting young people across Aberdeenshire through the continued delivery of Promise Groups and the introduction of a new Umbrella Groups programme in partnership with Aberdeenshire Council and family services.

Over the past two years, AFCCT has worked with more than 250 pupils through Aberdeenshire Promise Groups, supporting Scotland's commitment to The Promise, which aims to ensure all children and young people grow up loved, safe and respected, with every opportunity to fulfil their potential.

Delivered in partnership with Aberdeenshire Council, the Promise Groups programme provides young people with a bespoke eight-week programme tailored to their interests and needs. Each programme culminates in participants planning and delivering a celebration event for their peers or local community, helping them develop confidence, communication, leadership, teamwork and relationship-building skills.

The project places young people's voices at its heart, empowering participants to shape their own experiences and recognising their achievements throughout the programme.

During the 2026/27 academic year, AFCCT plans to deliver Promise Groups across 16 primary and secondary schools throughout Aberdeenshire.

Holly Robertson, Change Manager at Education & Children's Services, commented,

“This programme is powerful because it blends the passion young people have for Aberdeen Football Club with a deep belief in their own potential to achieve and give back. The collaborative spirit has been nothing short of phenomenal. Watching secondary pupils lead sports sessions for their feeder primaries is inspiring; they become role models, showing younger pupils that secondary school is a welcoming and encouraging place. These connections have eased transitions for many, creating a sense of belonging and continuity that makes a real difference.”

“We are thrilled to have AFCCT as a key facilitator for the Promise Groups and look forward to continuing this outstanding partnership, one that has brought such meaningful benefits to our most vulnerable children and young people in Aberdeenshire.”

Alongside the expansion of Promise Groups, AFCCT has launched a new partnership with Aberdeenshire Whole Family Support to deliver Umbrella Groups across all 17 secondary academies in Aberdeenshire during the 2026/27 academic year.

The Umbrella Groups programme has been designed to support young people who may face barriers to engaging with mainstream education, including sensory differences, feelings of overwhelm and situations where smaller learning environments or reasonable adjustments are not always available.

Building on the successful model established through Promise Groups, Umbrella Groups will offer tailored programmes designed around the needs, interests and strengths of each group. Participants will have opportunities to develop confidence, resilience, communication, teamwork and leadership skills within a safe, inclusive and supportive environment.

A key feature of the programme is its person-centred approach, ensuring activities are adapted to meet the diverse needs of participants while encouraging them to shape the content of each programme and celebrate their successes.

AFCCT will also look to pilot the programme from January within Primary Schools across the North East, ensuring that support is provided from an early stage in education.

Holly Robertson, Change Manager at Education & Children's Services, commented,

"We believe that every young person deserves to feel a sense of belonging and to have the opportunity to succeed. Through this innovative and compassionate approach, the Umbrella Groups will demonstrate our commitment to ensuring that young people receive the right support, at the right time, in an environment where they can flourish."

AFCCT's continued investment in tailored youth programmes highlights its commitment to supporting children and young people across Aberdeenshire, ensuring they have access to opportunities that build confidence, develop skills and help them thrive both in education and in their wider communities.”