Scottish Water and SPFL Trust team up to make a splash in schools - New education programme shows kids H2-O is the way to go
Scottish Water and The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) Trust have teamed up to bring a brand new education programme to selected Scottish primary schools.
Launched today at Mountfleurie Primary School in East Fife, the scheme was endorsed by East Fife Manager and former Scotland defender Gary Naysmith.
Gary said: “This is a great education programme of real value to young people and I am confident it will be a great success. More than ever we have to ensure that we get the message across that exercise and hydration are essential parts of a healthy lifestyle.
"Doing it at this level, when young people are at a critical stage in their development, is a great idea. I’m proud to stand side-by-side with Scottish Water and the SPFL Trust in launching the H2-O programme."
The H2-O programme focuses on the relationship between water, hydration and physical activity. It combines a physical and mental workout for pupils, emphasising the importance of staying hydrated and physically active.
Each 90-minute session will be delivered by professional club community football coaches who are affiliated with the Scottish Professional Football League.
The session is split into two parts and involves a 40-minute interactive classroom based session focusing on ‘The Water Cycle’ and ‘Our Bodies and Water’.
This covers how water is essential to our lives, how the water we drink is drawn from and returned to the environment in a continuous cycle and the importance of staying hydrated.
Pupils then take part in a 40-minute physical activity session which involves dribbling a football around cones in different ways depending on what water-related word is shouted out.
After the session each pupil will be given a certificate confirming they have taken part in the programme. They will have a sports water bottle to help them to drink water and keep hydrated and a voucher for a free family match ticket to a game at their local club.
To deliver the programme, Scottish Water and the SPFL Trust are working in partnership with three professional clubs: East Fife FC; Elgin FC and Queen of the South FC.
The programme, which is absolutely free for schools to take part in, will reach a total of around 3,000 young people across the three clubs’ local areas.
Billy Singh, General Manager at the SPFL Trust, said: “It is crucial kids know the importance of hydration and physical activity from a young age. We were keen to get involved from the start and help spread the message as football is a great way to teach school children important life lessons, in a fun, enjoyable way.
Local football clubs do great work in the community and it is great that East Fife, Elgin and Queen of the South are on board with this project. What’s more, is that at the end of it all, the pupils will get a chance to get out on a Saturday and support their local club.”
Alan Thomson, Head of Corporate Relations, Scottish Water, said: “Working with the SPFL Trust helps us to inform and educate children to learn about the world of water that we all need every day.
"We are investing in future generations so that they understand the value of Scottish drinking water and the vital role that drinking water plays in keeping us properly hydrated.
“This is an exciting programme to be part of and is part of our on-going commitment to education at Scottish Water.
Our website has dedicated pages, modules and activities to download at www.scottishwater.co.uk/education which support learning and teaching for the school curriculum in Scotland.
“We are also involved with the Water Ways exhibition at Glasgow Science Centre and Go Safe Scotland, a safety initiative for Scottish Schools.”
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