COMMUNITY TRUST EDUCATION HUB PILOT SUCCESS

In 2019, Dundee United Community Trust (DUCT) was successful in securing a grant from the Scottish Children’s Lottery via their Chance to Study programme totalling £14,482.  This funding allowed DUCT to pilot a brand new Education Hub project which invested significant support to local schools, children and families in the areas of improving attainment and health and wellbeing. 

The Education Hub comprised of delivery of the following key components: 

• Tackling Schoolwork initiative which uses disguised learning to improve numeracy and literacy skills
• Shoot Back in Time which uses Dundee United as the lens to engage children in learning about local and personal heritage
• Breakfast Club which provided a healthy breakfast and a walking bus to school
• After-School Club which provided a balanced nutritious tea as well as sport/social activities in a safe place (our Home, Tannadice Park). 

While the project was interrupted as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, DUCT still provided a strong programme of local support over the 2019/2020 school year: 

• 173 children from six schools took part in Tackling Schoolwork
• 54 children from six schools took part in Shoot Back in Time
• 13 children were supported with a balanced breakfast and tea after school in what was an intensive 240-hour project wrapped around the school day. 

Commenting on the success of the Education Hub, DUCT Chief Executive Jamie Kirk said:

“We’ve delivered programmes with local schools since the very beginning of the Trust and it’s a vital part of our programme.  I’m really encouraged by some of the outcomes we’ve tracked during last year and our staff regularly reported how well received the project was.  This was a big step for us in terms of making a difference in reducing the attainment gap and I can’t wait to share our plans for 2020/2021 as our education programmes expand even further.” 

Some of the key outcomes achieved include: 

• 73% of children who took part reported that the project helped improve their literacy skills
• 87% of children who took part reported that the project helped improve their numeracy skills
• 82% of children who took part reported that the project helped improve their health and wellbeing
• 80% of children who took part reported that the project helped improve their social skills
• Three in four of the children who took part reported that the project increased their knowledge of the suffragettes and football during WW1
• 75% of the children who took part reported that the project increased their knowledge of Scotland in the 1900s. 

Over the 24 weeks of the project, DUCT distributed 2,240 breakfasts and 2,140 dinners providing vital support to children in the local community outside of school time. 

The Scottish Children's Lottery was launched to raise money for children in Scotland, with proceeds helping to improve the lives of children right across the country.  The grant was awarded by Chance to Study - a society lottery under the Scottish Children’s Lottery – which supports projects aiming to improve children's education through their school years and into young adulthood, and ensure that all young people in Scotland have the opportunity to learn, develop and fulfil their potential. 

Ken Barclay who is Chair of Trustees for the Scottish Children’s Lottery said:  “I am delighted that we have been able to provide funding to Dundee United Community Trust from the monies generated from the Scottish Children’s Lottery which was established to promote and support the development and potential of children and young people in Scotland.  

"Thank you to those who play the Scottish Children’s Lottery; you are helping to support the great work that our charities undertake.” 

As well as the main funder, Scottish Children’s Lottery, the Trust would also like to thank Dundee United FC, Dundee Bairns and Dundee Partnership for their support in pulling this project together. 

Please look out for further updates regarding our 2020/2021 education programmes, we are sure you will not be disappointed by our ambitious plans.