NewsCommunityFooty side looking to tackle youth crime in Edinburgh through eight-week scheme...

Footy side looking to tackle youth crime in Edinburgh through eight-week scheme for youngsters 

AN EDINBURGH football club is looking to tackle youth crime in the city through its new scheme for youngsters. 

Spartans FC’s new Change the Game scheme offers 16-25 year olds the chance to gain employability skills as well as offering physical training and mental health support. 

The Spartans Community Foundation enrols youngsters who aren’t in education, employment or training in an eight-week course which teaches them life skills whilst getting them physically active. 

Now in its second year, the scheme’s big focus is on tackling youth violence and crime rates in north Edinburgh. 

The Spartans FC grounds (C) Deadline News
The Spartans FC grounds (C) Deadline News

Situated at their home ground of Ainslie Park Stadium, the Change the Game scheme not only provides students with an SQA qualification and skills for later life, but also two full meals a day – all free of charge. 

Speaking today, Eddie Malone, head coach of the personal development course, said: “Every day the participants come in and get their breakfast first thing in the morning, because unfortunately a lot of the young people we work with can come in here hungry, and it can affect their behaviour.  

“We find that if we feed them in the morning, their concentration levels are better.” 

As levels of youth violence and crime increase in Edinburgh, Spartans Community Foundation offers a place for young people to go when they aren’t at home or in school. 

Eddie went on to say: “In north Edinburgh especially, the levels of crime and poverty are high.  

“This place was set up to get people to divert away from that. We’ve set this area up to keep people busy, so they are less likely to offend. 

“As we go into week two of the course, the police and fire brigade will come in and give a chat about what it’s like to work with them.  

“A lot of the people with us will be young offenders so we try to keep them away from that lifestyle.” 

Following recent reports of youths bearing axes and knives in Leith, and arrests of children as young as 13 after Bonfire Night disorder in Niddrie, the Community Foundation aims to instil a footballer’s work ethic into its participants. 

Eddie states: “We try to relate it back to football.  

“We tell them that professional footballers eat properly, turn up on time every day to train, and get enough sleep. 

“Those lifestyle choices will apply to any job, but putting it in the context of football makes it easier for them to relate to.” 

Participants will also volunteer with the club, something they can carry on once the course has ended, with the possibility of further work down the line. 

Alternatively, after achieving the SQA Preparing for Employment qualification at the end of the course, they will have the skills to enrol in college or work elsewhere. 

Eddie explained: “It’s basic stuff but really essential, especially for those who missed out on education because of COVID.  

“Some people are starting over again.” 

Spartans Community Foundation also offers alternatives to traditional schooling, using their changing rooms as classrooms whilst the teams are out. 

Eddie said: “We offer an alternative school for any kids who have been kicked out of mainstream school or those who struggle with the way that’s set up – they can get their qualifications here, like their NAT 4 and 5 Maths and English.” 

He continued: “Our youngest participant at the foundation is about three, and our oldest is 103.  

“We have a nursery on the grounds, and we also help those from care homes who have dementia. 

“We show them old football videos and do quizzes with them to try and get those memories going. 

“Everyone is always so surprised that we do all this. The football club is really only a small part of it all, and the Community Foundation is far more important because it helps the local community.” 

The club will be hosting open days on 16 and 23 Jan, at the Ainslie Park Stadium. 

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