The Prince of Wales has visited the Leith Community Centre to highlight the power of community-led social impact through a new collaboration between The Royal Foundation and Street Soccer Scotland.
The partnership, announced by The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales, aims to foster health and wellbeing, reduce isolation, and strengthen social connections for thousands of local people through football.
This initiative forms part of The Royal Foundation's Community Impact Programme, which seeks to provide lasting impact in communities visited by Their Royal Highnesses.
During his visit, The Prince met with Street Soccer Scotland founder and CEO, David Duke, and hear about his plans to revitalise Leith Community Centre.
Prince William has struck a new partnership in Scotland.
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In the Community Centre's sports hall, His Royal Highness spoke with Street Soccer football coaches and players, some of whom have experienced homelessness.
He heard how the new partnership will benefit socially disadvantaged adults and young people in the Leith area.
The Prince then observed some of the activities the Community Centre currently offers before joining a discussion with Edinburgh YMCA's Youth Forum.
The discussion, hosted by CEO Mike Kerracher, gave an opportunity for young people from across Leith to talk about their aspirations for the Community Centre and upcoming projects.
William was in Leith to mark a collaboration between The Royal Foundation and Street Soccer Scotland.
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Street Soccer Scotland, which originated in Leith in 2009, has been delivering free football-themed training and personal development programmes for socially disadvantaged adults and young people across Scotland.
The Royal Foundation will provide funding to support efforts to revitalise the community centre as part of this new partnership.
The funding will be used to renovate Leith Community Centre into an inclusive, welcoming space for local residents.
It will enhance existing sports-based initiatives that use football to support people experiencing issues such as poor mental health, addiction, homelessness and isolation.
The Prince of Wales met with people helped by the scheme during his visit.
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The grant will also enable vital outreach work in the community to better support individuals experiencing social challenges. Additionally, it will facilitate the recruitment of a dedicated staff member to further the impact of the 'Leith United' coalition.
The Royal Foundation is working closely with Street Soccer Scotland to bring together local partners including Leith Community Centre and YMCA Edinburgh to create 'Leith United'. This new coalition aims to set a framework for sustainable funding for community spaces and initiatives that other communities can utilise and learn from.
The ambition is for it to exist as a blueprint for innovative practices in partnerships and community asset management which can be replicated across other communities across the UK.
The Royal Foundation's Community Impact programme was founded in 2022 to transform how people and organisations across the UK address society's greatest challenges.
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The royal also visited a community centre in Leith.
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The programme seeks to mobilise unique coalitions to help communities foster greater social connection and develop local community spaces.
Previous successful projects include partnerships to renovate community halls on the Isle of Mull and support for Birtley Community Pool to provide swimming lessons and lifeguard training.
The Foundation has also collaborated with Olympic champion Tom Dean's Swim School to provide 1,000 learn to swim packages for children from underserved backgrounds.
Other initiatives include Manchester's dedicated employment programme for young people at risk of violence and support for young people's mental health in Scarborough.
The Scarborough partnership has established a locally led Fund that has provided nearly 300 young people with direct support and over £20,000 in targeted grants to local services.
