Apache North Sea has been confirmed as a strategic partner for the development of the Russell Anderson Foundation (RAF) in south Aberdeen. The company’s offshore charity bond committee has donated £50,000 which will enable RAF to support young people in some of the city’s most deprived areas. The donation will allow the foundation to increase the work that coaches are delivering in Kirkhill, Greyhope, Tullos and Abbotswell primary schools, as well as accelerate the long-term objective to expand the RAF footprint in the south side of the city, throughout the Lochside Academy catchment area.

The Apache bond committee manages funds generated by the workforce through sales of confectionary and other items on the offshore platforms in the Forties and Beryl Fields.

“The foundation provides city school children with key life skills that will help them to flourish now, and in the future,” said bond committee member, Karen Hay. “It aligns with our focus to empower vulnerable and underserved populations in the regions where we live and work. We are honoured to partner with the team at RAF in their efforts to support children in these communities by teaching valuable life lessons and encouraging them to thrive in the school environment and improve their health, wellbeing, and their future potential.”

RAF founder and former Aberdeen FC captain Russell added. “This partnership represents a significant point in our journey and, having established ourselves over the last twelve years in the St Machar Academy ASG area, we have moved into, and increased, our presence in the Kincorth and Torry areas on the city.

“Thanks to Apache’s involvement, there are several areas around aspirations we would like to focus on, and our aim is simple, to make children and young people aware of the opportunities all around them as they cannot aspire to be what they do not know exists.

“We have an incredible opportunity to shape and inspire the next generation of Aberdeen's workforce through our Pathways programme and we are eternally grateful to have Apache on board with us.”

Formed in 2012, RAF began by delivering free football sessions to children in some of the more socially deprived areas of the city. These days, what RAF does encompasses so much more than just football. The whole ethos of the Foundation is to empower children to make good decisions and give them a chance to reach their potential. RAF works with over 2500 children on a weekly basis across partner schools in the city and, although a large part of the work remains focused on health, both physical and mental, and well-being and being physically active, RAF also works with the schools in other areas to improve attainment levels and help with better outcomes for the pupils. This includes practical cooking lessons, food support, mentoring programmes, workplace visits and employability opportunities.