Kilmarnock F.C. has utilised its funding award from the SFP’s Community Initiative to expand the delivery of their “Match Fit” programme to a maximum of 75 S2 pupils over a 30 week period in five secondary schools across Ayrshire. Each school will be allocated a six week block for 15 selected pupils and the programme will take place on a school day from 9am to 3pm. Pupils will be picked up from school and dropped off at the end of the day by Kilmarnock F.C. staff and will be taken to Rugby Park where they will have access to the various amenities within the club, including the Fitness Centre, Media Centre and the stadium itself. “Match Fit” is designed to provide participants with a fun learning environment and an opportunity to build friendships. Support will be available to improve literacy, numeracy and the core skills of these young people by way of a new approach to academic learning which will see them take part in a Fantasy Football League, where their numeracy skills will be used to budget the buying and selling of players and their literacy skills will be developed through having to complete an account of their activities during the programme which will be contained in their “Daily Diary”. Participants will be encouraged and supported to work within a team, to build relationships and to socialise with each other. The programme has run successfully for the last five years and this Community Award from the SFP will be used to help continue the programme throughout Ayrshire. A wide range of additional opportunities will be made available to these young people – they will have access to improve their general fitness at the club gym and will take part in training sessions on the pitch; the media centre will offer access to laptops and the internet where pupils can develop their IT skills by creating match reports and programmes; opportunities for work experience in administration and maintenance will be provided at the stadium and hospitality skills will be available through the club’s on-site hotel. Educational and motivational talks will be given by current and ex-professionals, as well as the local Community Police Officer. On match day, pupils are encouraged to assist the community department with their activities involving upwards of 100 young children at their football sessions on the Saturday morning. At the end of the project, participants are required to complete an evaluation form and are asked to keep a food diary and take part in basis fitness tests in order to monitor their progress towards a healthy lifestyle. Paul Di Giacomo, the club’s Community Engagement Manager said “This project is about improving the lives of the individuals involved and aims to support these young people in the transition from childhood to adulthood and hopefully assist them make the correct life choices.”