The award from the SFP’s Community Initiative scheme will be utilised by the Raith Rovers Community Foundation, which was formed in the summer of 2014, to help deliver four new impressive programmes which will expand upon the Foundation’s existing community football programmes, the first of which will see a partnership with local schools to offer primary school children the opportunity to access football coaching and fun football in a safe and structured environment. The programme will run for three hours on 40 Saturday mornings throughout the school calendar year and for 4 weeks during the school holidays. The Foundation also intend to operate after-school coaching for young children across 18 primary schools in the Kirkcaldy area and one 90 minute coaching session will be offered to each school in partnership with Fife Active Schools. The second programme – the “Kick-Off” Health Initiative – will encourage local residents in the age range 20-50 to get fit and each session will involve one hour of physical activity and a 30 minute lesson based on general well-being and healthy eating, after which the participants will prepare and share a healthy snack after each weekly session. The 12 week programme will be held in and around Stark’s Park, whether that be at the stadium or at a local park or the nearby beach. For young, isolated parents in the locality of Stark’s Park, the Foundation will partner up with local Health Visitors and Community Learning and Development to run a keep fit class for these young parents on a similar basis to the “Kick-Off” Health Initiative and this Baby Buggy Boot Camp will initially operate over a ten week period. The last initiative will see the involvement of the local High School and Fife Council’s Community Learning and Development service to deliver a programme on Flexible Curriculum for targeted students in S2 and S3 to help improve their self-confidence and communication skills. This programme will be football focussed and will see these young adults participate in two, half day sessions over an 8 week block of sports activities, team work and communication skills. Tom Phillips, Chairman of the Raith Rovers Community Foundation said “RRCF uses the power of football and the profile of Raith Rovers F.C. to enhance and improve the quality of life for people in Kirkcaldy and in the wider area which the Club serves. We sincerely hope that these initiatives will help benefit the local community by increasing opportunities for young children to participate in fun football and allow teenagers to have a more positive school experience throughout our Flexible Curriculum programme. We are delighted that our health projects will help local residents build healthier and more active lifestyles.”
