News

Scotland has been named as having one of the most community engaged leagues in the world, according to an International survey of the top 25 leagues on the planet.

Scotland was ranked fourth in the findings, which measured clubs’ collective levels of social responsibility across five continents.

The Rangers Charity Foundation has contributed to Scotland’s success in this major research via our work with our charity partners and over 20 community programmes run in the Glasgow area focusing on issues such as health and fitness, employability, social inclusion and education.

The Foundation engages with over 5,000 young people every season, working in 67 different schools via programmes such as +Sport, Move and Learn, Tobacco and Young People and via our Ibrox Community Hub.  We work with key partners on our Ready4Employment course to help the long term unemployed overcome their barriers to finding and keeping employment and in the sphere of health and wellbeing we are involved in initiatives such as Recovery With Rangers, Football Memories and Football Fans in Training.

Analysis on behalf of the SPFL concluded that Scottish clubs engage with about 710,000 people every year via a range of meaningful programmes which support identifiable need in the community, consistently demonstrating how sport can be used for good. 

Projects run by Scottish Clubs focus on areas such as improved physical and mental health, raising education standards, developing citizenship, and providing specific help to families in need.  22 clubs now have registered charities, up from just three a decade ago (one of which was the Rangers Charity Foundation).

SPFL Trust General Manager Nicky Reid commented, “Our belief has always been that football allows us to reach many people in society who otherwise wouldn’t be supported. We’re able to consistently demonstrate that football can be the strongest possible force for good and the feedback we consistently receive is universally positive.

SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster added: “Every SPFL club is firmly rooted in its community and this survey once again underlines how seriously the clubs take the responsibility of being a real force for good.

“To be internationally recognised for their many initiatives and partnerships is fantastic and a testament to the strong, mutually beneficial relationships which have been formed over the years.”

Minister for Public Health and Sport Aileen Campbell commented: “These results are excellent news, underlining Scottish football’s deep-rooted commitment to our communities.

“I have seen many powerful examples of this community activity first-hand. Clubs big and small in all parts of Scotland are committed to using our national game to inspire social change and deliver positive outcomes.” 

Denmark topped the table, followed by England and Germany, with Scotland moving up three places to fourth from the same survey conducted in 2016.