North-east schools urged to sign up for Unicef Soccer Aid Challenge

PRIMARY and secondary schools across the north-east of Scotland are being urged to lace up their boots and take part in a Unicef football challenge.

The Soccer Aid Schools Challenge is back and open to all children regardless of ability. It is designed to allow schools to team up with pupils to design an obstacle course to take on each other’s skills, whilst raising money to help Unicef’s work for children around the world.

Pupils can dribble, kick or bounce a ball, sprint, skip or hop across the playground and help kids have the playtimes they deserve. Youngsters can either donate to take part in their school’s challenge, ask parents to sponsor them or hold a charity bake sale to help top up their fundraising.

Money raised from the Soccer Aid Schools Challenge could help Unicef fight malnutrition, keep children safe in times of crisis, and get them back to school. It could also help provide vaccines against preventable diseases such as polio, so all children can grow up happy, healthy and able to play. By taking part, schools are helping to protect play for every child.

Sarah Wren, Head of Soccer Aid for UNICEF said: “With Soccer Aid for Unicef back for its 12th year, we’re thrilled to get children outside and moving all for a great cause.

"Every child deserves access to clean water, an education, and a safe space, but unfortunately as we know this isn’t the case for many children around the world. Taking part in the Soccer Aid School’s Challenge is a fun way we can do our bit to help children in those situations get back to the play-filled childhoods they deserve”.

Schools taking part in the challenge will be provided with a fundraising pack full of tips for planning the fun-filled fundraiser to ensure they raise as much money as possible for children worldwide. All fundraising efforts will go towards supporting Soccer Aid for Unicef.

This year, the Soccer Aid for Unicef match will see it’s return to Old Trafford, Manchester on Sunday, June 11 and will air live on ITV1, STV and ITVX.

Since 2006 – when Unicef UK Ambassador Robbie Williams co-founded the concept – Soccer Aid for Unicef has raised over £75 million to help give children all over the world a childhood full of play.

Schools can kick off their Schools Challenge any time from receiving the fundraising pack to the end of May, with fundraising totals to be announced as part of the live match in June.

To sign up for the Soccer Aid Schools Challenge visit https://www.socceraid.org.uk/schools/

Tickets for the Soccer Aid for Unicef match available at www.socceraid.org.uk/tickets

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