Celebrating community partnerships at Spartans Community Football Academy

Castle Rock Edinvar have been working in partnership with The Spartans Community Football Academy for around six years - originally funding community football coaching for the children of tenants in Pilton and in the past four years supporting the Spartans Youth Work team to deliver homework clubs in local Primary Schools.

Sandy Welsh, head of housing services comments that: “At Castle Rock Edinvar we provide a number of properties and services in North Edinburgh. We know a lot about our tenants but not all of us have a day-to-day interaction in our neighbourhoods. When we volunteer at homework clubs we get to build stronger relationships in our community. Our staff really enjoy volunteering and doing something different, fun, and important”.

Our homework clubs provide academic support to pupils, but they also allow youth workers to build relationships with young people so that when they are facing challenges they know that they can come to The Academy for support. We currently have clubs running in six local schools. Volunteers from Castle Rock Edinvar allow us deliver this important service in Pirniehall Primary School where they are great role models to have in the classroom.

Shelley from Castle Rock Edinvar volunteering at Pirniehall Primary School.

Shelley Hutton, a volunteer from Castle Rock Edinvar loves helping at homework clubs: “I can see how strong the relationship is between the pupils and the Youth Workers from The Academy. Some of the kids may not get homework help at home and it’s great to be able to support them.”

Castle Rock Edinvar is a huge supporter of the Academy’s work in the community. It’s great to have such a strong relationship with a local business that shares our commitment to supporting the community in North Edinburgh. We look forward to many more years of partnership working.