Through the support received from the Youth Activities Small Grants Fund and Show Racism the Red Card, Aberdeen FC Community Trust and the SFA St Machar School of Football have launched a new innovative project designed to encourage more young people from diverse backgrounds to take part in sport.

The initiative, launched as part of Show Racism the Red Card’s Annual Fortnight of Action, will see a group of pupils from the School of Football taking a leading role in both the planning and running of a newly created participation centre. This centre will be a free to play and open to all weekly football session designed to bridge the gap between recreational and club football. It has been identified that there are currently a large number of young people from ethnic minorities who do not play organised football due to a lack of awareness, accessibility and availability.   Harley Hamdani, SFA Football Equity Officer, said “AFCCT have been addressing this problem through the creation of participation centres aimed at younger children. This initiative is one of the next steps in our effort to ensure everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the game, regardless of their ethnic origin”.   Footy Fun: A Game for All, is very unique in that not only will the participants benefit from the programme, but those organising and planning the project are S2 pupils from St Machar Academy. They will have a voice throughout the entirety of the project, from its naming to the coaching sessions delivered. Furthermore, these young people have already received a Cultural Awareness Workshop through the School of Football and will also attend a Show Racism the Red Card workshop.   In what promises to be an invaluable experience Calum MacDonald, SFA Player and Development Officer, added “this project will allow the School of Football pupils to learn more about developing themselves through working together, while at the same time helping others from an ethnic background within the school take part in football. Being involved will also allow them to volunteer in a coaching environment, experience which will help them in the future”.

The initiative, launched as part of Show Racism the Red Card’s Annual Fortnight of Action, will see a group of pupils from the School of Football taking a leading role in both the planning and running of a newly created participation centre. This centre will be a free to play and open to all weekly football session designed to bridge the gap between recreational and club football. It has been identified that there are currently a large number of young people from ethnic minorities who do not play organised football due to a lack of awareness, accessibility and availability.   Harley Hamdani, SFA Football Equity Officer, said “AFCCT have been addressing this problem through the creation of participation centres aimed at younger children. This initiative is one of the next steps in our effort to ensure everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the game, regardless of their ethnic origin”.   Footy Fun: A Game for All, is very unique in that not only will the participants benefit from the programme, but those organising and planning the project are S2 pupils from St Machar Academy. They will have a voice throughout the entirety of the project, from its naming to the coaching sessions delivered. Furthermore, these young people have already received a Cultural Awareness Workshop through the School of Football and will also attend a Show Racism the Red Card workshop.   In what promises to be an invaluable experience Calum MacDonald, SFA Player and Development Officer, added “this project will allow the School of Football pupils to learn more about developing themselves through working together, while at the same time helping others from an ethnic background within the school take part in football. Being involved will also allow them to volunteer in a coaching environment, experience which will help them in the future”.