EFDN welcomes The Spartans Community Football Academy to the network!

EFDN welcomes The Spartans Community Football Academy to the network!

EFDN is happy to announce that The Spartans Community Football Academy, the charitable arm of The Spartans FC has joined the Network. The Spartans Community Football Academy aims to enhance the lives of young people and families in North Edinburgh (“Here for Good”).

They do this through running a sustainable social enterprise which provides:

• an innovative range of education, health, well being and youth work activities.
• a social home for the community.

The Spartans Community Football Academy runs 20+ different CSR projects each week, two examples are described below.

Alternative School

The foundation runs a school for 16 young people aged 14 to 16 who are at high risk of exclusion from mainstream education. They help them to leave school at 16 with qualifications and ready for work or further education. The programme is based at Spartans using an innovative curriculum and the their football facilities to allow the young people to flourish.

Street Football in a Safe Place

The foundation runs a free football programme every afternoon after school for any local young person. It is managed by their Youth Work team who help them have fun and enables them to build relationships to help the young people with any challenges they may have. They will also, for example, encourage them to come to one of their Youth Clubs or to volunteer.

The foundation is recognised for innovation in the way they deliver social impact through football, mostly across youth work and education.

Hubert Rovers, CEO of EFDN: “It is a pleasure to welcome The Spartans Community Football Academy to the network. It is exciting to see how they work at their community especially when it concerns young people and families. Furthermore, it is inspiring to see the power of innovation in regards to CSR activities and it is clear that The Spartans Community Football Academy are at the forefront of this. We are proud to have them as a member and I am sure they will contribute greatly to the network in regards to best practice sharing.

Craig Graham, Chairman of The Spartans Community Football Academy added “We are delighted to join EFDN. They play a brilliant role bringing together members to share experiences and projects, and helping to accelerate the role football can play in delivering positive social outcomes.”