THE PARS have teamed up with supermarket giant Tesco and Fife Education Services to launch its innovative ‘Schools Engagement Strategy’.

Working alongside The Pars Foundation, the club have been working to create a comprehensive community partnership with local primary schools in West Fife, of which Tesco’s new store at Dunfermline Fire Station is its main sponsor.

The programme kicked off on Monday 3rd November at Pitreavie Primary School with the first of three programmes specifically designed for primary school children to use football as a stimulus for learning across the curriculum.

A future programme for secondary school children is planned.

The first aspect of the programme – ‘Pars Stars’ – works to develop literacy skills of writing match reports, commentating and interviewing. The ‘Pars Tackle Your Health’ aspect looks at health, wellbeing, nutrition and exercise by outlining the day in the life of a professional footballer and stressing the importance of regular exercise, rest, diet and looking after the body.

The ‘Tours for Schools’ part of the initiative gives children the opportunity to learn about the wider employment related aspects in the world of football including business, accounting, retail, hospitality, physiotherapy, media and maintenance.

Pars director Ross McArthur said, “One of our immediate goals had been to facilitate a community schools programme that would engage with local primary school children. We wanted to use the fun and enjoyment that football can provide to kids, to support children’s learning, in line with the Curriculum for Excellence.

“We are delighted that Tesco has agreed to work with us and The Pars Foundation to allow the programme to be taken to local West Fife primary schools.

“We greatly appreciate the sponsorship offered by Tesco and we hope to be able to profile some of the youngsters’ written work in the newly opened Tesco store at the Fire Station in Dunfermline.” Richard Moir, Tesco store manager, added, “We are really excited about our partnership with Dunfermline Athletic Football Club.

“As a store we are dedicated to helping our local community and so we jumped at the chance to be a part of the club’s new ‘Schools Engagement Strategy’ and to support the learning of future generations.”