A PARS Foundation project that promotes health and wellbeing in schools has been hailed as a "wonderful example" after it scooped a prestigious SPFL award.

The 'Pars Tackle Health' initiative, which is delivered by the registered charity that delivers Dunfermline Athletic's community programme, was named as the SPFL Trust's Community Project of the Year at its annual conference last Wednesday.

Dunfermline, along with Aberdeen, Celtic and Hearts, made the final shortlist from 13 submissions and were crowed winners after a vote from their peers, which followed presentations from each finalist at Tynecastle Park.

Co-ordinated by former teacher and volunteer Gennaro Guidice, the project promotes positive attitudes towards health and fitness by using players from the club – who visit schools across West Fife every Monday – as role models and to talk about how it impacts on their day job.

It consolidates learning outcomes covered in Curriculum for Excellence's health and wellbeing and, over the current school year, the Pars will have visited 28 primary schools and spoken directly to 1,133 P6-7 pupils.

Delighted Gennaro said: "It's great for the club and is recognition of the good work Dunfermline Athletic is carrying out in the local community through its schools engagement programme, under the auspices of The Pars Foundation.

"The programme is successful because everyone in the Pars family – the players, management team, the Pars Foundation coaches, and chairman Ross McArthur – buys into it. I'm delighted, especially for Ross, who from day one has been looking to build bridges within the community.

"He has been very supportive and enthusiastic of the school visits from their very beginning in 2013"

He added: "The 'Pars Tackle Health' initiative uses professional footballers as role models to challenge local schoolchildren to think and act more positively in relation to their health.

"They learn about the benefits of a healthy diet and regular exercise from the players, who describe in detail their daily lives and training routines. Teachers and pupils enjoy the opportunity to meet and speak with 'real' footballers, as can be seen from their comments and feedback.

"Health and wellbeing is a huge part of the primary school curriculum and I hope to keep it going as long as the demand is there."

Club captain Callum Morris is an enthusiastic supporter of the Pars Foundation's endeavours, and commented: "It's not often you get the opportunity to go out into the community and see people.

"It's nice to go and see the kids and it's a big part of our daily routine, diet and eating right, so it's something you can quite easily convey and impress upon them how big a deal it is.

"They seem to take it on board really well; they're fully engaged when you go in there and I think it's nice for us to go and help out.

"It's an award which is greatly deserved and an amazing achievement for the guys. It's a privilege for us to be part of it."

Manager Allan Johnston said: "It's an unbelievable achievement for the club and shows you all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes, especially from guys like Gennaro, who's giving up a lot of his time to be part of the programme.

"You can see how successful it's been and the reaction from the kids is the most important thing. Hopefully the boys can be good role models for them."

Nicky Reid, SPFL Trust chief executive, hailed the project and said: "Dunfermline's project is a wonderful example of engagement with schools.

"Headteachers have praised the programme and feedback from children has been tremendous.

"The most rewarding thing about this project is it entirely runs upon the goodwill and expertise of volunteers. It's a wonderful example of how a smaller club charity can be so very effective in its community."

In addition to 'Pars Tackle Health', the Pars Foundation offer a further three programmes to schools.

'Tours for Schools' gives children the opportunity to learn about the wider employment related aspects by inviting them for a look behind the scenes at East End Park; 'Pars Stars in the Media' aims to develop a range of literacy skills using football as a stimulus; and a business management initiative – aimed at S4-S6 pupils studying national 4, 5 or higher business management – provides a look at how the club markets itself to different segments of its fanbase.

For more information on the Pars Foundation and its programmes, visit https://parsfoundation.co.uk/, or find them on Facebook or Twitter.