How Scottish Gas Football Camps Tackle Holiday Hunger

Scottish Gas has teamed up with the Scottish FA to supercharge grassroots football clubs throughout the country and help show holiday hunger the red card. Our Scottish Gas football holiday camps provide opportunities for children of all backgrounds and abilities to access free football sessions. Former Scotland International Lee McCulloch has been on board to promote the initiative that’s so far helped over 1,500 children stay active, social, and supported across Scotland.

Scottish football legend Lee McCulloch with local children at a Scottish Gas Football Camp

Football fun and free lunches for kids

Research conducted by Scottish Gas via YouGov into the issues faced by parents over the school holidays highlighted financial and time constraints, with some parents frequently struggling over the holidays. To help tackle this, along with a week of football fun, all participants of the clubs also enjoy a nutritious, free lunch, helping to eradicate ‘holiday hunger’.

Encouraging positive values in young athletes

The Scottish Gas Football Camps initiative has delivered 120 week-long camps so far throughout Scotland. Presenting the project in Parliament last month, MSP for Glasgow Pollock and former First Minister and leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) Hamza Yousaf, described this “powerful partnership between Scottish Gas and the SFA” as an “inclusive and inspiring initiative, which brings joy, development and opportunity to communities across Scotland”. Welcoming the “promotion of positive values through the campaign, encouraging teamwork, communication, respect and fair play”.

Transforming Lives: The Power of Para-Football Camps

To make sure our clubs are as inclusive as possible, we’ve opened 48 para-football camps across the country. These week-long football camps support people with disabilities by encouraging everyone to come along and play football.

To support the camps, former Scotland International footballer, Pat Nevin joined the team at Tranent along with his son Simon, who’s neurodivergent. Research has shown that participating in sport can be beneficial to people with neurodiverse conditions, including autism. Getting involved with sports can help enhance motor skills, improve social interaction and even potentially help reduce the severity of some autism-related symptoms such as repetitive behaviours. Following his participation in the Tranent camp Pat Nevin said, “The impact these camps can have isn’t just significant – it can be life-changing.”

Pat & Simon Nevin enjoying a Scottish Gas Para-Festival event

Sign Up for Scottish Gas Football Camps

Learn more or sign up for one of our Scottish Gas Football Camps

Published on 23 June 2025 by:

Hannah Lawrance

Brand Partnerships Manager