Tag: Extra Time programme

Football activity club funding doubles to £4 million

Support to help families on low incomes with childcare

Football clubs and trusts across Scotland will receive additional funding to boost efforts to eradicate child poverty.

In the capital, four clubs – Spartans Community Foundation, Big Hearts, Hibernian Community Foundation and Edinburgh South Community FC – will all receive substantial government support.

The Scottish Government will double its investment in the Extra Time Programme, a joint initiative with the Scottish Football Association, from £2 million to £4 million for this financial year.

The funding will support more free before and after school clubs, and holiday clubs for children from families on low incomes.

By giving around a projected 3,000 children each week free access to sport and other activities which wrap around the school day, the funding will help more parents to enter or sustain employment or training. 

First Minister John Swinney made the announcement during a visit to Pollok United’s after-school activity club where he heard about the contribution innovative childcare options are making to the eradication of child poverty.

Mr Swinney said: “We know funding from the Extra Time Programme is enabling football clubs and trusts to provide really valuable childcare options, particularly for families from low-income households who are most at risk of living in poverty.

“By removing barriers to affordable and accessible childcare, we will contribute to the eradication of child poverty. I will shortly set out further views on this crucial issue in Parliament.  

“At the Nethercraigs Sports Facility, I saw children enjoying a healthy snack and fun activities including arts and crafts and sports. Parents have told Pollok United the service helps with food and childcare costs, relieving pressure on stretched family budgets.

“Like many others, I will be supporting Scotland at Euro 2024 when it gets underway in Germany this week. But the Extra Time Programme is a reminder that local football clubs are supporting communities here at home – providing valuable services beyond matchday. They understand the value of that support for local families, and they are well placed to provide crucial facilities and services.”

SFA Chief Executive Ian Maxwell said: “We are delighted to announce this additional funding in conjunction with the Scottish Government to extend the Extra Time Programme.

“The benefits have been clear to see and it’s vital that we continue to offer support for families to allow children and young people to access as much physical activity as possible.

“As well as the thousands of children who will engage with the game, clubs are often the heartbeat of their local communities and it’s just as important that we offer more opportunities for parents and carers too. This programme is a great example of how impactful the power of football can be.”

A Spartans spokesperson said: “We are delighted to be part of this delivery in North Edinburgh, supporting families in our community and providing after school and holiday clubs for young people.”

Pollok United Community Engagement and Funding Lead Deborah McCabe said: “Pollok United is delighted to be involved in this innovative Scottish Government and SFA collaboration.

“It has enabled us to provide a service that not only supports families during this cost of living crisis by offering free childcare provision, it also demonstrates that grassroots football organisations are well placed to deliver successful wider socio-economic support within communities, resulting in meaningful outcomes for those involved.”

EXTRA TIME funding:

ClubRegionProject Budget
Aberdeen FC Community TrustNorth£108,600.00
Broxburn United Sports ClubSouth East£149,700.00
Celtic FC FoundationWest£84,608.00
Dundee United Community TrustEast£89,130.00
Dundee United Sports Club 1984East£143,136.20
Dundee West Community TrustEast£104,010.00
Edinburgh South Community FCSouth East£135,000.00
Falkirk Community Football FoundationCentral£149,884.34
Glenrothes Strollers Community FCEast£134,335.00
Heart of Midlothian Football ClubSouth East£158,250.60
Hibernian Community Foundation LtdSouth East£149,844.00
Inverness CT Community DevelopmentNorth£250,772.00
Montrose Community TrustEast£100,185.00
Morton in the CommunityWest£82,946.25
Motherwell FC Community TrustCentral£120,066.50
North Kelvin Sports Development GroupWest£131,214.00
Partick Thistle Charitable TrustWest£183,238.47
Pollok UnitedWest£61,610.00
Queen of the South Community TrustSouth West£112,000.00
Queens Park FC FoundationWest£79,218.40
Rangers Charity FoundationWest£126,289.00
Spartans Community FoundationSouth East£178,544.00
St Mirren FC Charitable FoundationWest£151,300.00
Wasp Community ClubCentral£110,811.00
The Killie CommunitySouth West£53,923.45
Ayr UnitedSouth West£226,630.00
Blantyre Soccer AcademySouth West£126,220.00
Cumnock Juniors Community EnterpriseSouth West£31,000.00
Inverkeithing Hillhead Swifts / Blairgowrie and Rattray East£80,000
Ross CountyNorth£55,384.10

Help for families during holidays

‘Extra Time’ partnership providing vital support

A joint initiative between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Football Association is supporting low-income families.

Launched by the First Minister with a £2million Scottish Government investment last year, the programme provides before-school, after-school and holiday activities for around 2,700 children each week.

The Extra Time programme aims to tackle poverty by delivering accessible and affordable activity clubs for children from low-income families.

During a visit to Dundee United Sports Club, which received £95,000 from the fund and provides support during term time and school holidays, Deputy First Minister Shona Robison said: “School holidays should be a time for fun and enjoyment for children, but for many families it is a time of added financial pressure.

“Scotland currently has one of the most generous childcare offers in the UK, and our investment in early learning and childcare, and school age childcare, is a key part of our goal to tackle child poverty.

“We are committed to building a system of school age childcare that helps to support parents and carers into employment, training or study. Our investment is helping to reduce inequalities that exist for children from lower income families who might otherwise struggle to participate in activities before or after school or during the holidays.

“Our Extra Time partnership with the Scottish Football Association is in the early stages of delivery, but we are already seeing the positive impacts that access to term time and holiday clubs are having on both children and parents.

“For example, we have early evidence from families that they feel better supported to work, with children seeing the benefits of increased physical activity as well as other benefits such as improved attendance, and improved behaviour at school’.

Chief Executive of the Scottish Football Association, Ian Maxwell, said: “It is fantastic to see the impact this vital programme is already having across the country since its launch last year, building on the initial success of the pilot in Ayr.

“Every child should have the opportunity to experience our national game and play with their friends within their local communities. There is no doubt that initiatives such as the Extra Time programme help remove barriers for children and their families around accessing after school and holiday activity clubs.

“We are appreciative of the continued support of the Scottish Government on this project, as we continue to pursue avenues in which the power of football can make a tangible difference in the lives of people in Scotland.”