The Scottish Schools’ F.A. works with schools to support children’s wellbeing through the medium of association football and related activities. The Association also seeks to support relevant charitable ends. Sometimes, the best way we can do this is to provide the specialist charities with some much needed additional funding.
Charities, including the Scottish Schools F.A., have really felt the negative financial impact of the pandemic. At the same time and for the same reason, charities have never been needed more by so many people whose lives have been adversely affected in so many ways by Covid.
It was with a view to this wider community picture, that the Scottish Schools F.A. recently donated £2 000 to each of the following charities – The Chris Mitchell Foundation, SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health) and CHAS (Children’s Hospice Across Scotland).
These donations have been made on behalf of all the young people who have benefitted from the physical and mental health benefits of playing football with their friends at school and who are looking forward to doing so again, in the not too distant future.
In addition to many other roles, Chris Mitchell was a Scottish Schools’ F.A. Internationalist who played for his country in 2003 and 2004.
Chris was taken from his family and friends in 2016. The Foundation set up in his name works to raise awareness and funding for mental health first aid training courses. As well as providing support within the professional game, the Foundation also makes training available to grassroots football organisations including the Scottish Schools FA. Staff at the Foundation have indicated that they will use the donation to provide training for 32 people to support their core activities in relation to mental health and wellbeing. Chris Mitchell Foundation
SAMH supports children and young people all over Scotland with issues relating to mental health. It is our understanding that SAMH will use the donation to support young people making the transition from school to college. More information regarding the SAMH service can be found on their website. Scottish Association for Mental Health
One of the many awful things about the pandemic is that it has deprived desperately needed services, like those provided by CHAS, of the reliable flow of income on which their on-going work depends. CHAS will use the donation to support their work offering a family support service for babies, children and young people with life-shortening conditions. CHAS
Scottish Schools’ F.A. Resources Which Support Our Pupils’ Wellbeing
On our website:
SSFA Dream Team Fitness Challenge
On our Facebook page:
