AFCCT link up with former Dons captain for Schools Initiative
Aberdeen FC Community Trusts (AFCCT) Red Start programme and the Russell Anderson Development School (RADS) have come together to combine their resources to improve and increase physical activity and football development in Woodside and Riverbank Primary Schools.
The Russell Anderson Development School (RADS) was launched in 2012, with the goal to improve and increase the provision of physical activity and football development within recognised socially deprived areas of Aberdeen.
Through structured sports and fitness programmes, plus the participation in fun exercises, the young people involved can develop communication, social and life skills, whilst improving their knowledge about the importance of physical activity and nutrition.
Graeme Burnett, from RADS, said “We are of course proud of the impact RADS is having on young people across the St Machar ASG cluster. It was further enhanced over the past few weeks with us working in partnership with AFCCT and the inclusion of the Red Start programme at Woodside and Riverbank primaries.
“It was great for the RADS and AFCCT coaches to combine their resources for the benefit of the children”.
AFCCT’s Red Start Programme was created to combine football, fitness and fun for children of a primary school age to encourage them to engage in physical activity but also to signpost them to opportunities within their local area and get them involved in all kinds of sport.
Aaron Scully, AFCCT Community Coach for Red Start said, “This partnership has been very beneficial to myself personally and AFCCT. RADS and their coaches do a great job in engaging the children in their sessions by making them fun and challenging as well as offering the children free after school sessions.
“RADS don’t just work on football skills with the children, they also work on communication, social and life skills, while also talking about the importance of physical activity and nutrition.
“These values are promoted through the AFCCT RedStart programme as the aim of RedStart is ‘To educate children on the importance of health and wellbeing through the use of football, while encouraging them to take part in regular sporting activity’, so it was advantageous for these to run alongside each other.
“It’s great to see the former club captain be involved in such a fantastic programme, and I can see the difference this partnership is making in not only the schools, but also in the local area.”
With both charities hoping to have the same impact, children were encouraged to take part in extracurricular football as part of the partnership with the hope of giving these young people opportunities to take part in football whether that be at additional football centres or clubs in the local area.
Together AFCCT and RADS worked with two schools Woodside Primary School and Riverbank Primary School both situated in the St Machar area with pupils from the schools receiving a tour of the stadium and tickets to attend a game at Pittodrie.
Mrs Cook the head teacher from Woodside said, “We have been delighted to receive weekly coaching through RADS in partnership with AFCCT.
“Our children have benefited greatly from the sessions, developing playing skills as well as a positive attitude to each other, building resilience and promoting team work. We look forward to continuing to develop our partnership over the course of this school session”
For more information on the initiatives email info@afccommunitytrust.org
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