EFDN welcomes Raith Rovers Community Foundation to the network!

EFDN is happy to announce that Raith Rovers Community Foundation has joined the network.

Through the power of sport and the brand of Raith Rovers, the foundation aims to engage, motivate, inspire and empower our community through innovative & creative partnerships working to support their community to reach its full potential.

The foundation aims to engage its entire community, creating equal high-quality opportunities for everyone to participate. To make Stark’s Park the heartbeat of the local community and a place for activity to grow. Furthermore, to become the go-to provider and club in the region.

Discover below some of Raith Rovers’ CSR Activities:

Walk & Talk

Due to their geographical location and the numerous scenic walks in their community the foundation created a social group called Walk & Talk back in August 2020. Due to the global pandemic they knew they needed to create a safe space for people to socially reconnect and stay physically active. The walks are all outdoors and range from 3-5 km in distance. The foundation currently has a group of over 30 walkers taking part every week. The physical activity supports their mental well-being however the opportunity to come together with others at the football stadium for a tea / coffee & chat after the walk has proven a massive success also.

The group is now all socially connected and throughout the year creates a number of social events. They have also undertaken various fundraising opportunities as a group to give back to the local community they all reside in.

Reminiscing Raith

In partnership with Sporting Memories Scotland and the Raith Rovers Former Players Association the club historian brings former managers, players or national football personalities together at their bi-weekly sessions to share their stories & tales of the past with the group. A fantastic and interactive session that has proven extremely popular with an average attendance of 50+.

The concept behind the session was to create a social gathering to support those suffering from social isolation and a decline in their mental health.

Every session lasts 2 hours and is delivered from their stadium where they are creating a safe and warm space for people to come. A hot meal is offered to every attendee and refreshments and cakes are also provided.

Social Football

In partnership with Kingdom Works, a local third-sector employability organisation the foundation created Social Football which takes place at Stark’s Park every Thursday. The session is a 1-hour turn-up and play-style session open to all adults aged 18 years and above.

Kingdom Works is a local organisation that has the aim of supporting and funding local people to gain skill-based qualifications that may get them back into the workplace or find employment in the community. Through this innovative and creative partnership, they have managed to attract over 30 attendees weekly who aim to socially connect, stay physically active and gain skills that can help them in their workplace. All attendees attend for various reasons and everyone is welcome.

Walking Football

Their Walking Football programme is open to anyone aged 40 years and older who wishes to stay in love with the game and remain socially and physically active.

Sessions take place twice weekly at Stark’s Park and there are two groups; their social group and competitive group. Their competitive group has taken part in the Walking Football Scotland League and Cup Competitions since 2018 and in 2019 was crowned Scottish Cup winners.

Team United

In April 2022 the foundation started its Team United project with national Para-Football Game Leaders, Team United Scotland. This opportunity is open to those aged 10-16 years of age who suffer from autism. Their group trains weekly at their stadium, Stark’s Park, and they take part in the national autism league each season.

Hubert Rovers, CEO of EFDN: “It is a pleasure to welcome Raith Rovers Community Foundation to the network. Raith Rovers’ foundation has multiple programmes that showcase the importance of mental and physical well-being such as the Walk & Talk programme. At EFDN we believe such programmes create a great impact on its respective communities. Their Social Football programme, which aims to attracts people through football to gain qualification, which can make participants gain skill based qualifications, is a clear example of what can be achieved through the power of football. I believe the network will greatly benefit from having Raith Rovers as a member and we look forward to hearing from them”