A pilot education scheme run by AFC Community Trust, which uses football to help school pupils make positive life choices, has had its funding renewed for another academic year.
Headteachers reported improved attendance rates as well as pupil engagement thanks to the Torry United programme.
The project was piloted last year by school children from Walker Road Primary School, Tullos Primary School and Torry Academy, to help pupils with the transition from primary to secondary education.
Delivered at Torry Academy by a team of AFCCT coaches and volunteers, it included an educational session with lessons covering healthy lifestyle choices and local issues, followed by a game of football involving pupils from the three schools.
The programme received positive feedback from participants who said it helped their confidence and relationships, taught them about healthy eating and, for some, gave them the opportunity to play football for the first time.
Torry United has been praised by teaching staff, who said it inspired pupils to make positive changes in their lives.
Beth Leitch, headteacher at Tullos Primary School, said: “Tullos pupils have benefitted greatly from being part of the Torry United programme. We have noticed an improvement in attendance as well as pupil engagement in class for some of the pupils who took part. All of the boys and girls have really enjoyed the programme and we have seen them grow in confidence.”
Thanks to funding from Tullos Primary School and Walker Road Primary School the programme will once again run during the 2017-2018 academic year, with sessions taking place on a Monday afternoon when levels of youth crime traditionally spike in Torry.
The project is led by AFCCT’s Dean McBain who took on the role as community projects officer following a six month apprenticeship with the Trust. Dean is originally from Torry and coaches a football team in the area.
He said: “We are very encouraged to receive such positive feedback from pupils and teachers for what we think is a very beneficial programme for young people, and we are thrilled that funding is in place to secure this initiative for another year.
“Moving to secondary school can be troubling for some pupils, especially those from a disadvantaged background or who are low in self-confidence, and Torry United lets these young people forget their personal problems and express themselves freely through football.
“It’s also a great opportunity for pupils to gain free training from our Scottish FA qualified coaches and it lets them experience their new school and meet some of their future classmates before making the move to secondary school.”
The next Torry United programme will launch this August and will involve about 20 pupils each week throughout the school year.
AFCCT was established as the official charity partner of the Club in 2014 with the aim of providing support and opportunity to change lives for the better throughout the North-east.
The charity engages with more than 17,000 participants each year, equating to approximately 160,000 participations across 60 programmes and initiatives, with volunteers from the organisation already delivering more than 3,500 hours of free community support in their spare time.
For more information please email info@afccommunitytrust.org or visit www.afccommunitytrust.org
