Volunteers from Passion4Fusion, a new community group based in the Gorgie area of Edinburgh, recently attended an Early Touches course delivered by Club Development Manager, Tony Begg.

Passion4Fusion were established in May 2015 to challenge the inactivity of children and young people, particularly within the local African community.

Having identified this, the group discussed the current barriers that were impacting on this inactivity and what could be done to remove these. Barriers included a lack of knowledge about where their child could be active and confidence amongst parents in accessing local services. With this in mind Passion4Fusion developed weekly football sessions to establish participation opportunities which in time would act as a bridge to the wider football community.

12 volunteers attended the Early Touches course on the day with the knowledge gained being used to deliver a new block of sessions in the New Year. ‘The enthusiasm and commitment of the volunteers was easy to see. All the participants were engaged and desperate to learn as much as possible that could then be used for future sessions’, Jennifer Malone, Diversity & Inclusion Officer.

One volunteer also highlighted the change of perceptions from some parents with one in particular stating the football was not for her son as it would encourage negative behaviours. All 4 of her sons now attend with her highlighting that participating has had a positive effect on behaviour and self-confidence.