Off The Bench kicks off
Written By SPFL Trust Media Centre
Off The Bench, our new programme to improve outcomes for young people at risk of committing offences, has launched.
Off The Bench kicked off on Monday at St Mirren Charitable Foundation, other community trusts delivering the programme from this week include:
- Dundee FC Community Trust
- Falkirk Football Foundation
- Motherwell FC Community Trust
Big Hearts Community Trust will also be taking part in the initiative, launching their programme in August. Spaces are still available, any charity or not for profit organisation working with young people can refer, contact: [email protected] for more information.
Funded by the Scottish Government’s CashBack scheme, our Off The Bench programme is for 18-24-year-olds who have committed, or are considered likely to commit offences or engage in anti-social behaviour, including football related offences.
The programme will be delivered in partnership with Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, the Procurator Fiscal, and the Scottish FA. It will combine physical activity and classroom time; with content focusing on a number of key topics including: sectarianism, flares/pyrotechnics, anti-social behaviour, homophobia, drugs and alcohol, organised violence, racism and employability.
There will be a strong focus on enabling young people to build a better path moving forward; certificate-based courses to aid future employment will be included, and upon successful completion longer term volunteering opportunities will also be available.
Interim Operations Manager, Fiona Taylor said: “We are delighted that community trusts have begun delivering our Off The Bench programme, which is such an important initiative.
”Young people have faced unprecedented challenges over the course of the pandemic, so it has been especially fantastic to bring participants together safely for face to face delivery.