Building on last year’s Community Safety Partnership football tournament in Aberfeldy, the Street Sports for All (SSFA) summer 2009 programme from 11 to 15 August was reckoned to be ‘a huge success’ with over 50 young people benefiting from the facility being available all week long in Victoria Park.
The initiative involved partnership working between Aberfeldy Parish Church of Scotland and P&K Youth Services.
Teams were entered from the Breathe Project, Tayside Fire Brigade, Tayside Police, Local Young People, Breadalbane Football Club and the local GP’s from the doctor’s surgery.
The project received funding from the Community Safety Partnership with the trophy being donated by Aberfeldy Ironmongers.
The week-long programme involved tying in with The Community gala week and involved organising an under 14s competition on the Tuesday with the culmination of an over 15s tournament on the Friday evening. An intense final between the Breadalbane Young Guns and Aberfeldy Parish Church resulted in a penalty shootout with Breadalbane Young Guns lifting the trophy in the end.
Barrier Breaking
Ten other local lads also benefited from attending the Christians In Sport week-long sports camp at Loretto School in Edinburgh where they received professional tuition in sports of their choice. The McKillop Trust part funded the sports camp.
Franny McGrath told Comment: “The main aim was to use the SSFA as a way of breaking down barriers and forming positive relationships between local young people and local organisations. Over 60 people attended the final with good humour all round.
“This annual event also encourages young people to become more active giving them alternatives to drinking on Friday nights”
