Sport Aberdeen’s community sport team launched the ‘Football for All’ project in October 2023, to deliver a targeted programme for New Scots and refugees in Aberdeen to participate in weekly five-a-side football sessions.

It is a first of its kind project for the city, using the power of sport and physical activity as a catalyst for positive change.

The project is designed to fulfil aims and objectives as set out by the Scottish Government’s ‘New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy: 2024’. The strategy has six outcomes, with the project primarily focusing on ensuring that ‘New Scots can pursue their ambitions through education, employment, culture and leisure activities in diverse communities.’

Football for All was initiated through successful partnership working with local charity Asylum and Refugee Care (AARC) – the founder Jane reached out to Sport Aberdeen for support to get New Scots involved in sport and physical activity.

Sport Aberdeen’s Lead Community Sports Hub Coordinator attended a weekly event called the language café, hosted at the Arts Centre by the Grampian Regional Equalities Council (GREC). By attending this event, the feedback generated was overwhelmingly around New Scots asking for football.

The two-hour football sessions take place on a weekly basis at Fives Football, with monthly 11-a-side matches taking place at Aberdeen Sports Village.

The 11-a-side matches give New Scots the chance to join football teams, with scouts from local teams present to sign players at amateur level clubs including Glentanar.

Several participants have received some form of football clothing provision through Kit for All – a project Sport Aberdeen’s Active Schools team are involved in, helping individuals to access recycled and pre-loved sports kits. Through a partnership with Aberdeen Football Club Community Trust (AFCCT), football shirts from a previous season were donated too.   

Every week, there are new attendees and the project has continued to grow, with an average of 30 attendees per session.

Communication with the target audience is through posters distributed in hotels, the community sport team attending relevant events and direct emails to participants.

Despite the language barrier, it was recognised that sport is the universal language. Football is a ‘safe space’ and protected time for the New Scots.

In a short space of time, the project has had an immense impact. It has had:

• Over 100 distinct participants
• 65 pairs of football boots provided
• Over 80 attendees given full kit (jumper, t-shirt, shorts, socks)
• 80 hours of free football since October 2023
• Over 10 different nationalities attended

Frequent qualitative feedback from participants is used to evaluate the project’s success.

A regular attendee said: “When I am in the hotel, I always feel stressed. There’s lots to think about like waiting for documents and not having work. A lot of the people in the hotel have seen some horrible things from back home.

“However, we all come here to play, we laugh and feel ourselves.

“When I exercise I feel good, all the stress leaves my body even for just a few hours. When I am lying in bed I struggle to feel happy. Getting to come out and play, I go back feeling so much better and more myself.

“I have made lots of friends coming here, including the Scottish guys who organise the football. When someone comes along angry or upset, they always cheer you up and make you feel better.

“We all feel very lucky and excited playing football.”

Another regular attendee said: “The football has been fantastic, it has been really good to get out of the hotel and do something different.

“A lot of us have traumas from where we came from, being able to come here on a Wednesday helps all those memories wash away. It’s a great escape.

“I am very grateful to Joe, Kyle and everyone who organises this. It’s a great idea and has helped for my physical health and mentally.

“Every so often we play full 11-a-side games and there are scouts from local teams who pick up players. I was chosen by Glentanar which I was very happy with.”

A local worker for the Asylum and Refugee Care (AARC) charity said: “Since the start of the Football for All project, I have been observing the atmosphere within the hotels and I have witnessed a significant change in it.

“I’ve noticed that the individuals taking part in football every week appear happier and more confident. It seems that having a regular activity every week, something they enjoy, is providing them with a sense of purpose whilst being accommodated within the hotels – this is changing the overall atmosphere of the hotel.

“The men taking part are always very keen to go every week – they verbally express how much they enjoy it and are eager to sign up.”

To ensure Football for All is sustainable, Sport Aberdeen’s Commercial Services Manager will aim to secure a corporate sponsor as at present, the project has been made possible through funding received from Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership (ACHSCP)’s Health Improvement Fund.

To scale the project, the team will offer new opportunities such as the introduction of a football coach who will attend Fives Football on a 4-week pilot and those who wish to get some extra support can access it, but there is no pressure to do so.

Hermes is a prestigious football club in Aberdeen, so the team hopes to get backing from them which would be a huge milestone.

The community sport team has trialled other projects using the same delivery model and communication methods as Football for All, including social Boccia sessions in an area of deprivation in the city and New Scots cricket sessions at its Get active @ Kincorth venue.    

Sport Aberdeen’s CEO is keen to refurbish and create more 3G football pitches in Aberdeen, so if this is brought to life, the project could grow and more communities could be invited to play football such as young people living in SIMD areas – for example.