Young people in south-east Edinburgh are set to benefit from a new initiative from the University of Edinburgh, offering free sport, food and a space for socialising.
The scheme, called Friday Sport, provides school children with a free and welcoming place where they can gather together to be active, socialise and enjoy food at the end of the school week.
Based at the University’s Peffermill Playing Fields, the community programme has been created to support children aged between 10 to 15 years in Craigmillar, Niddrie and the surrounding communities.
The initiative was developed following community consultation in response to a gap in provision for local young people on Friday afternoons, when schools finish early and fewer structured activities are available.
Following a successful eight-week pilot delivered this spring, the programme will now continue during the 2026/27 school year, delivered in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council and local charities.
Rather than focus on formal sports training or coaching, the programme provides activities and equipment, with the young people encouraged to take part or use the facilities in a relaxed and self-directed way.
Footballs, basketballs, netballs and cricket equipment are made freely available, allowing young people to choose how they take part and supporting a more informal, welcoming experience.
Free food is supplied by Edinburgh zero-waste social enterprise Goodies, to ensure that young people have access to nutritious food at the end of the school day, alongside access to activities.
The University worked closely with organisations embedded within the community, including Livity Youth, Castlevale Youth Development Club and South East Community Policing Team, to develop the programme and connect with young people in the area.
The pilot programme delivered earlier this year recorded 271 individual visits over eight weeks, with almost two-thirds of attendees returning regularly.
Repeat attendance helped to foster a sense of connection and community, while new participants continued to join as awareness of the initiative grew.
The programme has also enabled participants to feel a sense of ownership over a local space they may not have visited previously, and the opportunity to use university facilities in a relaxed and inclusive way.
The project is supported by the City of Edinburgh Council’s Summer of Sport programme, created to provide free and low-cost sport and physical activity opportunities for young people across the capital.
The programme is part of a national initiative inspired by a major year for Scottish sport, including the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and Scotland’s participation in the FIFA Men’s World Cup.
Funded by the Scottish Government in partnership with sportscotland, this support will enable the University to continue Friday Sport throughout the school year, while strengthening connections with existing community programmes in the area and establishing longer-term provision for young people.
Friday Sport will continue during the 2026/27 school year, with activities held at the University’s Peffermill Playing Fields. Sessions are free, with young people invited to come along to take part from 1pm each Friday afternoon during term time.
Neil Rankin, Head of Active Wellbeing & Community Programmes at the University of Edinburgh, said: “We are delighted to be able to build on the initial success of Friday Sport and continue providing young people with a safe and welcoming place to be active, socialise and develop new skills. The pilot showed us that young people value having somewhere they can come together at the end of the school week without the pressure of taking part in formal coaching. Sport is an important part of the offer, but so too are friendship, food and simply having a space where young people feel welcome.”
Youth participant: “I love Friday sport because it’s really fun and I like how you make new friends. I think more people should join because it’s so enjoyable – you get to play football, have snacks, do different types of sports. It’s amazing!”
Convener of Education, Children and Families, Councillor James Dalgleish said: “This is a fantastic initiative that opens up sports opportunities to everyone. Sports and keeping healthy should not have a financial or geographical barrier and should be accessible to all. I have heard amazing things about Friday Sports and the hundreds of young people that have benefited from the sessions in football, cricket and basketball. I am delighted the sessions will continue for the rest of the academic year and hope hundreds more young people can take advantage of the activities on offer.”
Police Sergeant Eirlys Fraser, of Police Scotland’s South East Community Policing Team, said: “At the South East Community Policing Team, we are delighted to have been involved in the University of Edinburgh Friday Sport project at Peffermill. Projects like these are vital to our communities, giving young people far more than just a safe space to spend time after school. By reducing barriers to participation, Friday Sport provides opportunities to access a variety of sports while also helping young people build important life skills. With increased confidence, resilience and teamwork, young people are being supported to make positive choices and thrive in the community.”
Emilio Tavares Lima, Livity Youth: “Our young people from Niddrie and Craigmillar have been given the chance and the opportunity to use this venue every Friday. This is how we break barriers when we are talking about inclusion and diversity, we can show it here.”
A video about the Friday Sport programme is available here: Edinburgh Sport Friday Sport Project.
