Award Winning Community Trust and historic University extend partnership

Award Winning Community Trust and historic University extend partnership Aberdeen FC Community Trust (AFCCT) and the University of Aberdeen have announced a two-year extension to their successful partnership focused on widening access to higher education.

The partnership, which kicked off in December 2018 has seen the University work with AFCCT in communities throughout the north-east, providing support and input to the Trust’s successful school and community engagement programmes to encourage pupils to consider coming to university.

This includes the Partner Schools Initiative, which includes various activities aimed at addressing poverty-related attainment issues at primary and secondary schools in Aberdeen City and Shire.

Heathryburn School Liz Bowie

The initiative has a wide range of collaborative aims, including attracting young people from a wide variety of backgrounds to higher education; engaging AFC Community Trusts cohorts with scientific studies; placement and training opportunities for University students with the Football Club; professional development training for Football Club staff from University lecturers and many more.

The inaugural year of the partnership saw the two institutions successfully collaborate to teach pupils at Tullos, Buchanhaven, Walker Road and Quarryhill primary schools and Northfield and Peterhead Academies; about basic economic and business principles by using a football club as an example.

Professor George Boyne, Principal & ViceChancellor of the University of Aberdeen said: “I am thrilled that this partnership between two local institutions has already yielded tangible actions that are benefitting young people in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, and it is great that it is being extended.

“Our founding principle is to be ‘open to all’, and a huge part of achieving that is to take our people into schools to show how higher education is relevant, advantageous and achievable for young people. Working with Aberdeen FC and the fantastic AFCCT has allowed us to do that using the AFCCT’s established connections with local schools and the results have been fantastic.

I look forward to growing our relationship with AFC over the next two years.”

The University of Aberdeen marked its 525th birthday in February by unveiling the institution’s ambitious vision and strategy for the next two decades. Aberdeen 2040 is broken into 4 key areas; Inclusive; Interdisciplinary; International; Sustainable; each with 5 key commitments and a highlighting explainer video. AFCCT were delighted to feature in the video for ‘Inclusive’.

Liz Bowie, newly appointed Chief Executive for Aberdeen FC Community Trust added: “I’m really excited by the work that is going on… there is a real opportunity now to diversify our projects and take them to another level.

“Partnerships like this with the University of Aberdeen are a prime example of the positive outcomes that can be achieved when organisations work together, underpinning our vision ‘to provide support and opportunity to change lives for the better’.”

AFCCT was crowned the ‘Best Professional Football Club’ in the prestigious 2019 UEFA Grassroots Awards.

For more information on the partnership and Club affiliation opportunities available: Robbie Hedderman, Partnership & Business Development Manager AFCCT: robbie. hedderman@afccommunitytrust.org Sarah McColl, Partnership Manager AFC: sarah.mccoll@afc.co.uk