PERTH PARENTS PROVE THEY ARE ON THE BALL

PHOTO: The parents are awarded the certificates from Saints Community Coach Danny Griffin and Associate Director Roddy Grant, alongside Fiona Steel from Action For Children.

Action for Children Scotland and St. Johnstone FC celebratated a first significant milestone together as families from Perth completed the 'Parents on the Ball' programme. The innovative and fun community programme, based at McDiarmid Park, equipping participants with new parenting skills and confidence.

The 12-week programme started in October 2015 and comprised of a series of weekly sessions which were specially designed to provide mums, dads, grandparents and other carers from Perth and the surrounding area the opportunity to learn more about healthy family living. Seven parents attended the course and completed the 12 workshops.

Fiona Steel, operational director for children’s services at Action for Children Scotland, explains: “We believe that sports clubs are very much at the heart of the community, contributing to the well-being and self-esteem of millions of young people and parents across Scotland. We’re proud to complete this first milestone with St. Johnstone FC to further our vision to improve the lives of young people and families in Perth and surrounding area. We look forward to developing this innovative partnership in the forthcoming months.”

Dave Black, from St Johnstone in the Community, said “St Johnstone has quite rightly acquired a reputation for being a family club and working with new parents absolutely fits with us as a club.”