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When Amanda Abercrombie first heard about the Rangers Charity Foundation’s Scottish FA Extra Time programme, she wasn’t sure it would be right for her son Oscar.

Oscar is a naturally quiet child, happy to sit back and observe rather than jump into group activities. But as he grew older, something changed. Hearing that a friend was attending Extra Time sparked his interest and for Amanda, that moment opened the door to a new opportunity.

“This year he said, ‘Oh, my friend’s going,’ and I thought, would it be something you’d like? And he said he said he’d love to give it a go.”

Delivered locally by the Foundation, the Scottish FA Extra Time programme provides free after-school and holiday activities for primary school children. Running in trusted school and community settings, it combines food, play and learning to support children and families across Glasgow.

For Oscar, stepping through the door on that first Monday marked the beginning of a quiet but powerful transformation.

“He doesn’t talk to anybody. He’s very, very quiet,” Amanda says. “But this year he came and he’s loved it.”

Extra Time sessions give children the chance to take part in structured activities such as sport, arts and crafts, games and supervised play, all while enjoying healthy snacks in a safe, supportive environment. For Oscar, the draw was immediate.

“I like coming here after school because I get to play football and things,” he says. “I get a healthy snack too. We get to play all kinds of games.”

“I get to spend some more time with my friends after school,” he says. “Which I like a lot.”

Over time, Amanda noticed a real shift in her son’s confidence.

“With other kids, he’s more outspoken now,” she explains. “Where before he would just sit on and watch, now he’s wanting to involve himself in things. I think it’s all to do with Extra Time.”

The programme operates after school and during holiday periods, supporting not only children but parents too. Families taking part benefit from free childcare provision; something that can be life-changing for those juggling work, training or study.

Extra Time also includes a dedicated parent support group, bringing parents and guardians together from different backgrounds and connecting them with local services.

“I love it,” Amanda says. “It gets all the mums from the school together as a group. We’ve done some courses and it’s brought us all together.”

Practical support makes a difference at home as well. Homework, which Amanda describes as “a total nightmare” in the evenings, becomes far more manageable through the programme.

“Coming here, he gets it done on a Monday, so it gets it out of the way. The coaches are really good at helping them get it done before they get picked up.”

The Extra Time programme is currently delivered in partnership with Ibrox Primary, St Saviour’s Primary and Riverside Primary, with sessions taking place both on school grounds and at the Ibrox Community Complex. Children benefit from high-quality activity in familiar, accessible locations within their community.

Amanda believes that connection to Rangers and the Foundation adds something special.

“I think it’s good for the kids,”

“The Rangers players have always come and visited the schools over the years. It’s good for the kids to know that first team players are interested in what they do in the community.”

One standout moment for Oscar was a visit from high-flying Rangers defender, Emmanuel Fernandez.

“It was fun to have Emmanuel Fernandez play with us,” he says. “He was very good at the games.”

Beyond play and learning, Extra Time also looks at wider challenges facing families, including food insecurity and mental health. Through strong links with schools and support services, parents can access trauma counselling, employability sessions and other tailored support, helping families thrive, not just cope.

For Amanda, having the programme rooted in the local area makes all the difference.

“I think having it in the community and having right next to our school is really good for the kids in the area.”

To find out more about our SFA Extra Time programme, visit the Rangers Charity Foundation website on: www.rangerscharity.org.uk