Street Soccer Scotland & Change Centre Dundee

Very positive stories are not shared nearly enough. Here’s one!

Last week, I took Kyle Fraser up on his kind offer to visit Change Centre in Dundee. I’ve heard him give a presentation on the great work he and the team do there through Street Soccer Scotland and also seen him promote this with equal positivity at networking events. Kyle’s energy for this ongoing social project is quite infectious and having crossed the threshold of their premises on South Road, I now totally get it.

From a standing start in 2021 they have created a significant community resource and a focal point for support, education and inspiration. My photos don’t do it enough justice, it really is a great facility and its long-term viability depends on continued support and hiring of their facilities and space. The facilities are great, the people are terrific and by making use of the Centre, you are doing a positive thing for Dundee.

The players (everyone connected to the Centre or Street Soccer Scotland is referred to as a “player”, not only those who play football) who utilise the many support services provided share a common link of significant personal challenge in life. From what was an empty former sports centre, the lives of many are now enhanced both directly and indirectly by their association with Street Soccer Scotland. The team of 3 at the start is now approaching 20 in Dundee alone, most of which have been players and are now employees.

The Change Centre is a busy operation, split between support for the many players (circa 100 per week) during the daytime and the evenings are paid-for community use. The revenue generated is reinvested back to provide more services to an ever increasing number of people needing support in the community.

The organisation has the backing of some significant national and local businesses, which is of course great news. However as they expand their services within and way beyond Dundee, any support to raise their profile and gain additional support or coverage is a positive. Street Soccer Scotland is now operating across all of Scotland’s cities and several other locations. The bigger picture is to replicate the Dundee centre to create similar across the country. It works brilliantly in Dundee, there is a need pretty much everywhere and so there is no limit in appetite to grow this organisation.

I will confess to total ignorance about Street Soccer Scotland, before I met Kyle in the Spring of 2024. To be honest, I was captivated by what he said. However I am so glad I took the time to see him last week, where he proudly showed off this amazing project…and introduced me to some equally energised colleagues. I committed to Kyle that I will do whatever I can, whenever I can to champion their work. I’d urge anyone to read up on this and do whatever you can to spread the word, whether to individuals who may be in need, potential customers who could hire their facilities or the wider business community who can support their cause and their growth.