ABERDEEN FC Community Trust is marking the return to school with three new signings for its award-winning Partner Schools Initiative.
A total of 23 schools from across the North-east have now signed up for the 2020/2021 season.
Each school can choose from a range of programmes, offered through the initiative, which best suits the needs of their pupils.
The overall goal of this partnership, which sees AFCCT coaches work directly with pupils, parents and teachers, is to help close the poverty related attainment gap by drawing on the power of the Dons brand and a passion for football.
The projects are run in association with schools, breakfast clubs, after-school and community clubs, and other education projects and have been proven to reduce absenteeism and lateness, raise attainment levels, improve pupil health and well-being and encourage participation in their local communities.
Hazlehead School is one of the most recent signings.
Councillor John Wheeler, , Aberdeen City Council’s education operational delivery convener, said: “The health and wellbeing of our school pupils is a huge priority for us and so I’m delighted that Hazlehead School is taking part in AFC Community Trust’s partner schools initiative.
“I know head teacher Barbara Jones shares the view that sport is a great way to engage with learners and feels that the partnership compliments the school’s values of respect, responsibility, courage, fairness and opportunity.
“By working with AFC Community Trust, we hope that pupils will become even more aware of the positive impact it can have on their mental health and well-being, particularly during these particularly challenging times, and help raise their self-confidence and resilience at the same time.”
Robbie Hedderman, AFCCT partnership & business development manager, said: “Lockdown has been an incredibly difficult time for schools as they have seen so much change in how education needed to be delivered.
“We are delighted to be able to play our part in supporting our partner schools and are looking forward to supporting the young people in these schools over the coming year.”
