he Pars Foundation has once again teamed up with Police Scotland to deliver Rivals United, bringing together nine local high schools for a day of football, education and positive engagement at Pitreavie.
Now in its second year, Rivals United uses the power of football to bring young people together while creating opportunities to have important conversations around anti-social behaviour, pyrotechnics, consequences and positive decision-making.
The pupils took part in a football festival throughout the day, alongside workshop sessions designed to encourage discussion and help young people understand the potential consequences of their actions.
Fraser Simpson from Police Scotland said:
“This project shows just how football can bring young people together, give them positive experiences and create opportunities to talk about some of the issues that affect them, including football-related anti-social behaviour. By working together with The Pars Foundation, local schools and our community partners, we want to give young people something positive to be part of, experiences that they can take away with them and remember long after the final whistle.”
Kelly Armstrong, Pars Foundation Charity Manager, said:
“We are incredibly proud to be supporting Rivals United for a second year. For us, this programme is about so much more than football. It is about being proactive, creating positive opportunities for young people and having important conversations at an early stage.“Football gives us a fantastic platform to engage young people in a way that feels natural and positive to them. By bringing together football, education and open conversations around consequences and decision-making, we can hopefully help young people make informed choices and understand how their actions can impact themselves and others.“The partnership approach is hugely important to us. Working alongside Police Scotland, the schools, Dunfermline Athletic FC, Raith Rovers FC and our community partners allows us to create something that is meaningful and has a lasting impact. We want young people to leave Rivals United with positive memories, new experiences and messages that stay with them long after the final whistle.”
The Pars Foundation was also pleased to welcome Clue'd Up to the event, who worked with pupils through engaging activities, while Police Scotland were on hand throughout the day to speak with young people and support the educational elements of the programme.
For the Pars Foundation, partnership working is central to the success of initiatives such as Rivals United. Working alongside Police Scotland, Dunfermline Athletic FC, Raith Rovers FC, local schools and community partners allows us to bring together different experiences and expertise to create meaningful opportunities for young people.
The football festival also provided plenty of competitive action, with the Rivals United trophy up for grabs. After a fantastic day of football, Kirkcaldy High School were crowned Rivals United champions and took home the silverware.
A huge congratulations to Kirkcaldy High School, and well done to all nine schools who took part.
We would also like to extend a special thank you to the Dunfermline Athletic players who gave their time to support the event and engage with the pupils. Their involvement helped make the day even more memorable for those taking part.
The Pars Foundation would also like to thank Dunfermline Athletic FC for its continued support of the Foundation and the work we deliver within our communities. The club’s ongoing support and commitment to community initiatives is hugely valued.
A further thank you goes to Police Scotland, Clue'd Up, all nine participating schools, teachers and everyone who contributed to making the second Rivals United programme such a success.
For us, the success of Rivals United isn't simply measured by who lifts the trophy. It is about the conversations that take place, the relationships that are built and the positive experiences young people take away with them.
We are proud to continue delivering Rivals United and to use the power of football to engage, educate, create opportunities and support positive choices among young people in our communities.
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