It’s widely acknowledged that football has the ability to inspire young people. By using the passion for football and the power of a football club’s brand, you could even help to close the poverty-related attainment gap.

With the beautiful game now returning and pupils back at school, Aberdeen Football Club’s Community Trust (AFCCT) has signed up 23 schools across the region to its schools’ initiative. The close link to the club, whose players are influential role models for many children, is one of the reasons why schools sign up with the Dons.

We are in one of the most prosperous regions in the UK, but this overshadows the ever-widening gap between its richest and its poorest. Sadly, as areas of deprivation grow, so, too, do the levels of disadvantage and, therefore, the attainment gap widens. For many in our region, it’s hard to believe that some children go to school with worn-out shoes on their feet and no food in their tummies. Some don’t even turn up for school or their attendance is sparse and erratic.

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The results of the trust’s education programme were a key factor in Aberdeen Football Club being recognised by UEFA in its Grassroots Awards 2019 as Best Professional Club. Education is at the heart of our mission, intrinsically linked to our healthy communities and football-for-life programmes: last year, the trust reported that for every £1 invested in football participation in the region, there was a £10 cumulative economic, social and public health return.

In the past two years, we have worked with 14,000 children, many of whom require behavioural, emotional and social support. Our projects, funded through Scotland’s Pupil Equity Fund, have been proven to reduce absenteeism, raise attainment levels, improve pupil health and wellbeing and encourage participation in their communities.

Football helps to tackle the attainment gap

Our coaches who go into the schools capture pupils’ attention through football-related activities, which can encourage them to come to school on time, attend and concentrate in their classes and help them to learn to cope with behavioural or emotional issues. Classroom-based work also focuses on teaching soft skills, such as teamwork, communication and resilience.

Lockdown has been an incredibly difficult time for schools. We have so much admiration for the headteachers and their staff as they have worked tirelessly to engage creatively with their pupils online, which we wanted to support through fun home workbooks and PE.

With the suspension of football, families, pupils and footie-loving teachers were missing their weekly dose of the sport, but daily “PE @ Pittodrie” sessions filled that vacuum. Our coaches - like Joe Wicks - kickstarted school days with post-breakfast physical activity and football drills. Teachers tell us that these sessions were invaluable in getting pupils energised and motivated, encouraging them to check in for school daily and buckle down with their online learning.

As we emerge from lockdown, the feedback we’re getting from teachers is that there will be a greater need for additional support for young people, particularly around their mental health. And football, we are seeing, can help teachers and their pupils cope with the challenges of Covid.

Robbie Hedderman is a former professional footballer and now partnership and business development manager for Aberdeen Football Club Community Trust