Services
News release
Football foundation kicks off
SFA Chief Executive Stewart Regan was amongst the guests at the Braidwood Motor Company Stadium on Tuesday 17 January to official launch the Livingston Youth Foundation.
The Livingston Youth Foundation will result in West Lothian Council, West Lothian Leisure, Livingston Football Club, the Scottish Football Association, community football clubs and other key partners working together in partnership to support and deliver football coaching and development programmes across West Lothian.
The foundation will take partnerships to a new level and it is thought to be the first time in Scotland a charitable organisation, involving so many partners, has been developed to boost participation in football for boys and girls. The aim of the foundation is to provide access to healthy sporting activity at a level suitable for the participant with the opportunity to progress in a structured environment. Whether it?s the early desire to play the game, learn about the game, develop as a player or prepare for competition the Livingston Youth Foundation will be there to guide participants through it all.
Andrew Miller, Executive councillor for education and a board trustee, said: "This is a wonderful programme that will ensure that football development in West Lothian will be properly managed to ensure that everyone benefits. Similar ventures do exist elsewhere in Scotland but they tend to focus around what an individual football is doing. The Livingston Youth Foundation brings together all the different groups in West Lothian, under one, overarching umbrella body.
"Everyone agrees that, at times, there is some duplication with programmes and lack of integration and vision for football development and player pathways. There are opportunities for all the partners to work closer together and ensure that we aren't doubling up on work. By working more closely together the trust will help ensure that the money being spent on football development will go that extra bit further in West Lothian."
He added: "There is lots of good football coaching and development programmes running in West Lothian and you only have to look at the top leagues in England and Scotland to see some of the players that have come through these initiatives. Graham Dorrans, Murray Davidson, Robert Snodgrass, Scott Arfield and Danny Wilson are all products of football coaching programmes in West Lothian and have went onto become established footballers.
"We want to take the good work taking place and make it better. That's why the Livingston Youth Foundation has been set up."
Robin Strang, General Manager of West Lothian Leisure, said: "We have fabulous facilities all over West Lothian and so many dedicated coaches, so it?s vitally important that we compliment that with a co-ordinated approach to the overall development of sport. It is great to see that so many partners with a vested interest in sport and wellbeing have come together to create the foundation."
Sport Minister Shona Robison said: "The Scottish Government is a committed supporter of Scottish football and recognises the positive impact our football clubs can have in communities throughout Scotland to promote all that is good about our national game and put local football clubs back at the heart of Scotland's communities. Livingston Football Club already carry out invaluable work in the community and this launch is helping to build on all of this work and I am delighted to be here to lend my support to this. Our national game is a powerful means of engaging with young people and this exciting new partnership will harness the facilities and coaching activities together for the benefit of the community."
Date: 20-01-2012
