The award from the SFP Community Initiative will allow Cowdenbeath F.C. to extend their existing Community programme aimed at young children in the Cowdenbeath area. The club currently offer many activities to local primary school children including after-school football sessions as well as breakfast and lunch time sessions across a number of schools. In addition and in conjunction with Active Fife, the club established a football session on Tuesday nights to enable a pathway from the school programme into evening activity sessions. These sessions have grown in number and additional schools have been added. The programme is such that the club now delivers through its own Community Coaches 17 sessions per week across 13 schools during term time. Total attendance per week exceeds 250 boys and girls. School holiday camps are also held every Easter, twice in the summer and in the October holidays. Several schools have asked that the club start up more after-school sessions while two schools have asked for community coaches to work alongside staff and parents who currently run after-school sessions. Additionally, two secondary schools have enquired about coaches going into schools to provide football sessions as part of the PE provision for S1 pupils and this award will help deliver this and there is also a possibility of piloting a girls’ only session either within or outwith school hours for S1 girls. It is hoped that the club will be able to expand its evening sessions into the Lochgelly area, as well as the current Cowdenbeath sessions. This new funding from the SFP would allow the club to expand their existing programme by adding up to 10 breakfast, lunch or after-school football sessions for potentially 150-300 boys and girls over a 36 week programme. These programmes will help build a lasting relationship between the football club and local children and will allow an opportunity for all children to participate in sport in a safe and enjoyable environment. Tom Ewing, Club Director said “Our current programme is now sustainable and is supplemented with additional incentives by the club. This new funding will help expand our existing initiatives and meet the demand from local schools. The club fully recognises its place in the community and wishes to continue to work hard to provide young people in Cowdenbeath and the surrounding area with the opportunity to play football and enjoy the benefits of an active lifestyle.”
