A group of 16 to 19 year-olds are taking part in a unique pilot project targeting school leavers in North Glasgow in an effort to bring more young people in the area into further education.

 

The ‘Football for Life’ project is a partnership between Rangers Football Club, North Glasgow College and Glasgow North Regeneration Agency (GNRA), with funding from North Glasgow Community Planning. 

 

The 12 week pilot project is designed to attract and engage some of the ‘hardest to reach’ groups, namely unemployed, disadvantaged young people with little or no qualifications.

 

‘Football for Life’ is a mix of practical and classroom based activity including educational sessions at North Glasgow College, pre-employment support at GNRA offices in Petershill and practical sessions at the Rangers Study Support Centre at Ibrox. In addition, enterprise sessions with Club staff and coaching sessions with Club coaches are all underpinned with work experience opportunities through GNRA’s ‘Get Ready for Work’ programme.

 

Each of the participants has an individual learning plan with agreed tasks to assist them with future employability, as well as the opportunity to gain SFA coaching qualifications.

 

In addition, professional Rangers coaches will be mentoring the group throughout the course and staff from different departments within the Club will take part in sessions designed to highlight to participants a range of possible career paths. 

 

Raymond Farrelly, Community Manager at Rangers Football Club, said: “Rangers is proud to be part of this innovative project which is providing real opportunities for people who had few options before they started this course.  Rangers is committed to using its influence to benefit the people and the communities of Glasgow and Football for Life is an excellent example of how the Club can make a difference to young people’s lives.  We are delighted to be working with NorthGlasgowCollege and Glasgow North Regeneration Agency on this project and look forward to continuing this partnership in the future.”  

 

Iain Abercrombie, Head of Faculty for Management, Business & Sport, said: “North Glasgow College are delighted to be involved in this new and innovative project, which will hopefully see several of the participants’ progress on to a full time course within the College.”

 

Tony Crosbie, Head of Strategy & Project Development at Glasgow North Regeneration Agency, said: “We work with over 500 young people within north Glasgow every year and it is important that we are able to offer flexible programmes that are tailored to their needs and future aspirations.  Football for Life offers our clients the opportunity to engage in a unique mixture of learning, fitness and employability support.”

 

Jonathan Brown , Area Manager North Glasgow Community Planning, said: “As funders we are pleased to support this pilot project which targets young people from some of the most deprived communities in Glasgow.  We look forward to seeing how this project impacts on these young people’s lives.”