Changing Lives: Jimmy Johnstone Academy

Football has a unique power to unite people, foster mutual understanding and break down prejudices. The Scottish FA in partnership with UEFA and Bemis Inclusive Community Project aims to integrate targeted groups within their communities through the Power of Football. The project invited groups to play the beautiful game within the setting of their local community grassroots football club.

Jimmy Johnstone Charitable Trust have hosted numerous projects over the years to benefit their local community.

Freedom from torture (pilot) in partnership with UEFA and the Scottish FA

JJA piloted an innovative football programme which was delivered specifically for torture survivors. Through the use of football, a safe environment was provided where people rebuilding their lives after torture could enjoy themselves while strengthening their overall wellbeing. The weekly football sessions were delivered jointly by staff from Freedom from Torture and The Academy, bringing together the expertise of each partner. The sessions consisted of warm-up activities focusing on teamwork and communication followed by short games and ending with a cool-down.

The GoFitba Project

The GoFitba Project is a football based health and wellbeing project for primary school kids delivered by The Academy alongside The Scottish Football Partnership Trust. This 12 week project offered local children a platform for fun, physical activity and a weekly interactive educational journey to discover how they can stay active and lead a healthier lifestyle through diet and nutrition.

Through The Academy’s successful delivery young participants had a chance to enjoy an hour of fun football-based activity led by club coaches, followed by an hour where they were taught how to lead a healthier lifestyle through diet and nutrition as well as completing their very own learning journal. In addition at the end of each weekly session, the kids are then served a hot healthy meal which gave them an opportunity to enjoy some social time together.

Dementia Project

The project is delivered in line with Alzheimer Scotland and the Scottish Football Museum where people with dementia, who have an interest in football, talk about teams and matches from the past and work with images and memorabilia to stimulate memories. As the Pavilion has a significant number of Jimmy Johnstone memorabilia, the venue has been a huge success with participants and partner organisations.

Community Payback Scheme

The Academy has engaged with Glasgow City Council in partnership with Criminal Justice Social Work Services to deliver the unpaid work element of Community Payback Orders. Community Payback provides an alternative to a custodial sentence, offering offenders the chance to make amends for their offences by carrying out work to the benefit of communities within the city.

Team Activity

Jimmy Johnstone Academy have two youth teams based at Cathkin Park in Glasgow. The club have recently started girl’s activity at Shawlands Academy with a view to start playing match day activity in the summer months