Community club offer free sessions to any Ukrainian refugees
Bathgate Thistle Community Football Club have offered free sessions to any Ukrainian refugees coming into West Lothian over the next few months.
The Bathgate club runs community programmes for the local community, as well as offering free football sessions to anyone on Sundays.
Sessions will be offered at the football pitches at Xcite Bathgate. The club made the announcement following the Scottish Government’s reveal of the‘Super sponsor’scheme.
By becoming a super sponsor Scots are able to sign up to provide safe accommodation for Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russian invasion of their country.
The scheme should make it possible for a significant number of refugees to seek asylum in Scotland – with over 8,600 people signed up for it already.
Paul Marr, the vice-chairman of Bathgate Thistle Community Football Club, spoke about the team’s offer.
He said:“As a community football club we have the unique opportunity to be able to do a lot with our existing community – the challenge is how can we help people fleeing Ukraine and coming to West Lothian?
“We want to support anyone and everyone that needs it in our community – and we thought the first thing we could do for our new arrivals is to offer free sessions.
“We’ve supported young people and families that speak different languages, and that are from a different cultural background as well – sport really is a universal language that allows us to have fun, integrate, and work together.”
Any families or individuals interested in attending the sessions can contact the team by emailing info@ bathgatethistlecfc.co.uk