Earlier this month Aberdeen FC Community Trust (AFCCT) was pleased to host its first ever Education Showcase Event which shone a light on the ongoing work that is being carried out in existing AFCCT Partner Schools and Alternative Academies in Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire.

The desired outcomes for both programmes are intrinsically linked to Education Scotland’s Interventions for Equity framework with a focus on developing skills for life, learning and work with the aim of reducing the poverty related attainment gap.

The event provided an opportunity for new schools and potential partners to hear more about the working model and some of the success stories from teachers and pupils who are already seeing the benefits of their partnership with Aberdeen FC’s partner charity.

The session also provided an opportunity to demonstrate the innovative approach of the brand-new MINDSET mental health programme which is being delivered in partnership with Grassroot Soccer in Lochside Academy and Buchanhaven Primary School with plans to expand further in the 20/21 school year.

AFCCT’s Chief Executive Liz Bowie gave her reaction to the event and outlined plans for the future, “Events like this are key to telling the story of being about ‘more than football’ and our Education pillar is perhaps the strongest example of that, where we are delivering real benefit to both local authorities, schools, teachers and most importantly the pupils.

“Hearing from the pupils from Manor Park Primary and Lochside Academy in particular really helped to bring the outcomes which we demonstrated in our 2018-19 Impact Report to life, in terms of increasing attendance, reducing lateness and exclusions and generally raising aspirations for youngsters throughout the North-East. We are particularly excited by the impact our new MINDSET programme is having on mental health in both primary and secondary settings and hope to see an expansion in this activity across the region.

“There is a huge amount of partnership working and collaboration going on throughout Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire and we feel that there is scope to do much more of that with more schools and funders making an even more positive impact on the health and wellbeing of our region.”

To find out more about our Education pillar and the opportunities available please contact holly.dawson@afccommunitytrust.org.

View our inaugural Impact Report