News

The Rangers Charity Foundation s3-s5 Wider Achievement pupils were lucky enough to head round the corner from Ibrox to the Royal Navy Reserve’s HMS Dalriada unit.

Participants on the programme were treated to a huge variety of experiences including; seaboat simulators, firefighting, sea survival and leadership activities throughout an action packed afternoon.

The SQA Wider Achievement programme has helped young people across the central belt re-engage with their education to help them build a brighter future. The Foundation works with a variety of schools to support pupils who may not be engaging optimally but could benefit from a different learning environment.

Secondary school pupils come to Ibrox one day a week to gain qualifications, get exposure to industry partners and develop their skills.

Foundation Community Programmes Manager, Jamie Duncanson, said:

“I’m delighted to have some of our Wider Achievement participants over at HMS Dalriada. A lot of the pupils that come to us through this programme find it difficult to engage in a traditional learning environment so getting them out to places like this and showing them what’s on offer can hopefully inspire them to think about longer term career options.”

“I think visiting here will have made pupils realise that it’s not just sailors in the navy; there are opportunities to work in engineering, logistics and even kitchen work as well.”

“I’d also like to thank the Royal Navy for hosting us at HMS Dalriada.”

Jayden who participates on the programme through Rosshall Academy had a great time. He added:

“Coming here has definitely made me realise that there are options for me. I had a good time on the activities as well like the boat simulator.”

“Wider Achievement’s been good for me. I don’t think school is really for me but coming here gets me out and about and learning about different things that I could do when I leave school.”

“Working towards the qualifications when I’m at Ibrox is starting to make me think about what I want to do as a job as well.”

The Foundation is a SQA Approved Centre and can therefore offer SQA qualifications which recognise wider achievement and the development of skills that will help learners to succeed in today’s world.

First Aid and Mental Health First Aid are examples of the accreditation available.

Wider Achievement recognises the life and work skills that come from a wide range of activities which can include sport, mentoring, voluntary work or fundraising activities — whether they take place at school, college or elsewhere. This year we are working with 17 schools across five different local authorities.

The Foundation was also a joint signatory, along with the Club, to the Armed Forces Covenant in 2016 and went on to become the first football club charity in the UK to receive the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme’s Gold Award from the Ministry of Defence in 2019, along with Rangers FC.

For further information on our Wider Achievement programme, please contact Foundation Community Programmes Manager, Jamie Duncanson via jamieduncanson@rangers.co.uk.