Football Community Programme heading to the Isles

A Council and Scottish Football Association (SFA) “Isles Community Programme” will be kicking off later this month. 

With visits planned to Shapinsay (Wednesday 18 September); Papay (Thursday 19 September); and Westray (Friday 20 September), SFA coaches, alongside the Council’s Active Schools Team, will be offering fun football sessions to school children. 

In addition, teachers will be able to learn more about the SFA ‘Learning through Football’ app, allowing schools to continue developing their skills and knowledge of football. 

A community session is planned for the Westray visit aimed at engaging with the community’s football volunteers. 

OIC Team Manager, Sport and Leisure, Katell Roche, said: “We are delighted with the support and funding the SFA has offered to make this fantastic programme happen. Reaching the isles through sport is so important and we are grateful when partners like the SFA take such a proactive approach.” 

The team have been working in partnership with the SFA on various projects, but one strand is the Community Inclusive Benefit/ SFA Community Programme. 

Active Schools Co-ordinator, Michael Swanney, said: “Whilst we are encouraging everyone in the isles to get active, with less than one year to go until Orkney 2025, we want to ensure all communities across Orkney are engaged, enthusiastic and excited to welcome the Island Games to our shores. 

“It’s very important to be as inclusive as possible in terms of all our work so we hope to see many faces as possible when we bring this programme to the isles.” 

SFA and the team hope to be able to bring a similar offer to other islands in Orkney during November and March. 

SFA Regional North manager, Graeme Sutherland, said: “The Scottish FA have worked successfully alongside Orkney Islands Council for several years and are delighted to continue this partnership with visits to the smaller isles. 

“We value all our rural communities and understand how important a role sport can play in engaging people and allowing participants to have positive experiences. 

“We are delighted to be able to deliver practical activity for all the children and young people and will also be focussing some time on our excellent “learning through football” resource during classroom-based interactions also. 

“It’s an exciting time for Orkney with football very much at the forefront of the Orkney Island Games 2025 and we are keen to help build on this momentum as we head towards the games in 2025!” 

Chair of the Council’s Education, Leisure and Housing Committee, Councillor Gwenda Shearer said: “I am delighted to see a programme of this nature being brought to the doorsteps of some of our isles communities and hopefully more will follow. As the countdown begins to Orkney 2025, there was great excitement with the draw taking place for the teams who will compete in the football competition at next year’s Orkney Games.  

“Encouraging our children, young people, teachers and parents through programmes such as these and to get involved with the biggest event ever hosted in Orkney is crucial not just to the success of the Games, but also for getting our children active from an early age and instilling those good habits.”