UEFA Foundation for Children awards €50K to fund community children’s initiative

UEFA has awarded 50,000 euros to the Scottish Football Partnership Trust, following a nomination from the Scottish FA, to fund a project catering for nearly 500 primary school children across Scotland.

The project, GoFitba, is a football based health and wellbeing project delivered by The Scottish Football Partnership Trust (SFPT) in association with community football clubs.

The Scottish Football Partnership Trust and the GoFitba project were successfully nominated by the Scottish FA to the UEFA Foundation for Children.

The project was further boosted by a generous donation from the Kilpatrick Fraser Charitable Trust, who have previously supported The SFPT.

GoFitba offers primary school children a platform for fun, physical activity and an understanding of the importance of a healthy lifestyle through diet and nutrition.

The programme will offer them a chance to enjoy an hour of fun football-based activity led by club coaches to develop their physical skills, attitude and confidence, followed by an hour where they will be taught how to lead a healthier lifestyle through diet and nutrition.

Topics covered will include the benefits of fruit and vegetables, the dangers of salt and sugary foods in their diet, water and hydration, food groups and their purpose and personal hygiene.

The kids will then all gather together to enjoy some social time and a healthy cooked meal.

The SFPT believe good health education and wellbeing is key for children having the best start in life.

GoFitba is an exciting 12-week community project for 480 schoolchildren from Inverness to Dundee, Edinburgh to Kilwinning and Glenrothes to Cumbernauld.

The programme will offer them a chance to enjoy an hour of fun football-based activity led by club coaches to develop their physical skills, attitude and confidence, followed by an hour where they will be taught how to lead a healthier lifestyle through diet and nutrition.

James Clydesdale, Chairman of The SFP Trust, said: “Football can be a positive tool for personal and community development. We are extremely excited to be delivering twelve projects across the

country and to be given the opportunity to engage with local schoolchildren and encourage them towards a healthy and active lifestyle.”

Stewart Regan, Scottish FA Chief Executive, said: “We were delighted to nominate The Scottish Football Partnership Trust for this award from UEFA and are extremely proud to have been involved in securing funding for such a noble and worthwhile project.

“The GoFitba project is a fantastic way to showcase what Scottish football clubs and organisations can offer to the young members of their communities. It is projects such as this that positively contribute to changing behaviours and attitudes at an early age and we are delighted to have played a role in funding this initiative.”