Match reporting - St Columbas kids with DAFC.co.uk's  Douglas Scott

The "Kickstart Project" is a partnership involving Dunfermline Athletic Football Club, Fife Council and education authorities.The aim of the project is to combat employability skills using football as the vehicle to motivate and equip the young pupils attending the project with the appropriate skills to make them employable up on leaving school.The project target participants between the ages of 14-16 who are identified as at risk of falling into the NEET bracket.

The above partners involved in the project recognise the importance football can have and its capacity for developing and contributing to the interpersonal skills the young pupils attending.  Football is a team game that requires self-discipline, respect, co - operation and teamwork.  The course content ensures that all participants are given the opportunity to be successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors in line with the Scottish Executive, "A curriculum for Excellence 2004".  Our "Kickstart Project" runs for 8 weeks with a 6 hour day (9.00am - 3.00pm).

• Players
• Managers
• Healthy Living
• Public Relations and Match Reporting
• Coaching and Show Racism the Red Card
• First Aid
• Sales and Marketing
• Graduation

Manager's week. Jim Leishman with pupil Shaun Mitchell

It is hoped that by delivering the course this way that participants will see that there is a lot more that happens behind the scenes at DAFC and that there are various occupations within the club. Each week will give the young people a chance to experience different fields of work.It will also give the participants an opportunity to develop their transferable skill such as communication, teamwork, self confidence.  Our aims at the end of each programme are:

• To increase the chances of sustained employment for vulnerable and disadvantaged groups - in order to lift them permanently out of poverty and fulfil their potential in life.
• To provide a positive learning experience
• To improve the confidence and skills of the most disadvantaged children and young people - in order to provide them with the greatest chance of avoiding poverty when leaving school
• To increase the rate of improvement of the health status of people living in the most deprived communities - in order to improve their quality of life including employability prospects.

Research for organising events

At present we have targeted 2 local secondary schools, Dunfermline High School and ST. Columbas High School with a total of 32 pupils successfully completing the course with Woodmill High School coming aboard after Easter. If you would like your school to get involved please contact our Project Co-ordinator Kelly Armstrong on 01383 730730 for more information.