News

School children in Govan received a visit from the Scottish Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing today (21 February 2019), as he officially unveiled the Rangers Charity Foundation’s ‘Hub in the Community’.

The project, which has now been running for 12 months, positions a full time Hub Officer in Govan High School to deliver a wide variety of programmes and provide a constant, familiar point of contact for staff, pupils and their families.

There is a strategic focus to support Govan High in raising attainment, increase positive post school destinations, enhance transition links from primary to secondary school and create a universal impact in all areas and year groups within the school, to help expand the young people’s full potential through education.

Sports Minister Joe FitzPatrick was able to meet students during a tour of the school and witness first-hand the work delivered by the Rangers Charity Foundation’s ‘Hub in the Community’, before taking part in a plaque unveiling ceremony.

He said: “The Scottish Government recognises football can be a powerful force for good in communities, inspiring the delivery of a range of positiveoutcomes.

“The Rangers Charity Foundation Hub in the Community, delivered in partnership with Govan High, is a real success for the area and is welcomed by pupils and parents alike.

“I’m confident this initiative can help young people in many ways, including in attainment and supporting the transition to secondary school.”

Inspiration for the Hub was drawn from visits to the Manchester United Foundation, where Rangers Charity Foundation staff witnessed its highly successful partner schools programme first-hand.

After liaising with Govan High School Head Teacher, Nancy Belford, and Glasgow City Council’s Director of Education, Maureen McKenna, a full-time Hub in the Community Officer was introduced into Govan High School in January 2018. 

Rangers Charity Foundation Director, Connal Cochrane, said: “We were proud to welcome Sports Minister Joe FitzPatrick to our ‘Hub in the Community’ at Govan High School today.  The Foundation and School have been working hard over the last year to implement a project which is making a real difference for local children, and we’re confident that we now have an excellent template from which more Hubs can follow in the coming years.

“The impact has been universal, delivering initiatives including; home visits, one to one sessions, a Breakfast Club, work experience, mentoring and transition programmes, football sessions, an autism unit and more.      

“We hope that everyone has enjoyed today’s special unveiling ceremony but, more importantly, that the students will continue to benefit from the Hub both now and in the future.

“We’re very grateful to our friends at the Manchester United Foundation for hosting our visits and for providing such positive inspiration for this initiative.”

Govan High School Head Teacher, Nancy Belford, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Rangers Charity Foundation as the pilot school for the Hub in the Community Officer here in Govan High School.

“Scott Smith, our Hub Officer, has been a very welcome addition to our team and he plays an important role in helping to enhance the support in place forsome of our more vulnerable young people. He has had a real impact in engaging a number of our young people who were at risk of disengagement from school, and the pupils are really benefiting from the breakfast club and primary transition programme he has developed. 

“We are thankful to Rangers Charity Foundation for giving Govan High the opportunity to be the pilot school for this exciting new initiative, and we are very pleased with the positive impact for our young people to date.” 

Since launching in January 2018, the Rangers Charity Foundation Hub in the Community has achieved the following:

• The launch of a Breakfast Club, attended by 20 S1 to S3 pupils, including those who are vulnerable and / or speak English as a second language
• A Mentoring and Pupil Buddy Programme, which offers students a SCQF Level 5 Volunteering Award
• Designed a learning project that incorporates P6 and P7 pupils and focuses on fun Maths, English and Sport sessions, to help with the transition process
• An Attendance League, which has created a healthy competition within the House Groups, with the winning House (32 pupils) posting an attendance stat of 97.9%
• Bespoke classes which help the pupils in relation to CV building, personal statements, completion of application forms and sourcing appropriate work experience exposure.
• A weekly class for Enhanced Nurture Base pupils, who require additional support to increase their school curriculum.  These sessions incorporate an SQA qualification.
• Autism Unit support, acting as a positive role model and helping with classwork
• Extra-curricular football coaching sessions, providing a platform which supports social skills, confidence and health and wellbeing within a structured and safe environment.

For more information about the Rangers Charity Foundation, visit: www.rangerscharity.org.uk.

For more information about Govan High School, visit: www.govanhigh.glasgow.sch.uk.