The award from the SFP Community Initiative will allow Dundee United F.C. to commence a new community engagement programme engaging with 35 primary schools across Dundee over a nine month period. The programme will be split into 6 week blocks over each term with each weekly session lasting for an hour. The club hope to reach 480 Primary 3-4 schoolchildren which equates to a massive 8,640 children over the four school terms. The overall aim of the programme is to encourage participation in sport through increasing children’s awareness of physical activity in sport, with the introduction of a football based programme. This will reinforce and promote Positive Coaching Scotland within an inclusive coaching environment provided by the club’s SFA certified coaches. Additional coaches will be recruited from Abertay University and this will allow these students to develop their practical knowledge and skills whilst being mentored and assisted by certified coaches. The schoolchildren will be taught ball mastery and techniques, the importance of an active and healthy lifestyle and each session will also integrate an educational element where children will learn to be moral individuals and realise the importance of respect, honesty and tolerance. After the completion of one term, schools will be invited to the new GA Arena close to Tannadice where a Finals festival will be held for all participants and the youngsters will be encouraged to remain engaged in football through the club’s community engagement programme or directed to other local community clubs.
