Nearly 4,000 free meals provided by Aberdeen FC Community Trust in last year

By Cameron Roy

November 7 2022, 7:30 pm

Aberdeen FC Chairman Dave Cormack speaking to children at Aberdeen Sport Village. Image: Aberdeen FC Community Trust.

Aberdeen FC Community Trust (AFCCT) has published its annual report, showing how it helped thousands of children across the north-east.

Its yearly findings show 4,208 school children engaged with the charity.

Some of them increased their school attendance and improved behaviour as part of the trust’s alternative timetable, designed to help pupils who struggle in a classroom.

AFCCT was established as the official charity partner of Aberdeen Football Club in 2014.

AFCCT coach helps out with teaching school children. Image: Aberdeen FC Community Trust.

It has the goal of improving physical and mental wellbeing by providing inclusive opportunities to “change lives for the better”.

The trust uses a shared passion for football as a starting point to close the poverty-related attainment gap.

What has Aberdeen FC Community Trust achieved?

Some of the main achievements of AFCCT detailed in the trust’s 2021/22 annual report include:

119 pupils achieved SQA qualifications through the charity.
Pupils from 17 primary schools and seven secondary schools have been involved.
Every S1 pupil in three secondary schools completed adolescent mental wellbeing learning.
2,091 meals were provided to primary school children.
1,814 meals donated to help feed needy people in Aberdeen.
£5,000 was donated to help children at a Ukrainian orphanage.

Since the charity began in 2014 it has been focusing on encouraging young people to engage in education, supporting a variety of subject areas including numeracy, literacy and science.

American Dons player Dante Polvara helps out at summer camp. Image: Aberdeen FC Community Trust.

Its youth ambassador programme, Brighter Futures, supports the transition from school through goal-setting and career development.

The trust also carried out Kick off Your Career which is a six-week employability SQA-accredited course focused on those at risk of long-term unemployment.

‘Inspire the next generation through football’

Liz Bowie, who became chief executive of AFCCT in 2020, said: “We have continued to inspire the next generation through the power of football and the passion for AFC while playing our part in closing the poverty attainment gap.

Chief executive of AFCCT Liz Bowie at Pittodrie Stadium. Image: Wullie Marr / DC Thomson

“From our work in schools through to our health and wellbeing programmes, we focus on maximising the potential of our communities to improve their physical and mental wellbeing.”

The trust has increased its staff from eight to a team of 35 employees and 25 session workers, as well as 33 volunteers – providing a total of 2,300 hours of support last year.

Ms Bowie added: “We owe a huge debt of gratitude to our volunteers, partners and generous supporters who have helped us this year.”