One housing association is helping turn lives around with a project to get homeless people into football.

Dunedin Canmore first started taking residents from their Leith hostel to free Street Soccer events with the aim of engaging homeless people with a corresponding Employability Pathways project.

But one man demonstrated true skill on the pitch when he made it all the way to the winning team of this year's Homeless World Cup.

William McLean, 27, beat more than 300 applicants to make it into Scotland's line-up, who ended up taking the trophy at the international games in Paris, after he took Dunedin Canmore's Partizan football team to the Street Soccer National League final.

Now Mr McLean, who is working towards an SFA coaching qualification and living in a permanent home, is volunteering with Street Soccer Scotland and hopes to move into paid work as a community coach.

He said: “A lot of people say that we’re just playing football but the skills we gain from taking part in the sessions, working as part of a team, communication, trust, health and safety, compassion - it all makes a difference.

“The work that Dunedin Canmore has done for me is great. Instead of pushing me into a job they took the time to find my interests and helped me find something constructive to do with my time.”

As the official sponsor of the country's men's and women's teams at the Homeless World Cup, the Dunedin Canmore Group contributed £5000 towards travel and accommodation, as well as sponsoring William as an individual player.

Another of Scotland's team mates, goalkeeper James Horsburgh, also got involved in the world cup through Dunedin Canmore's employability project and is now working as a community coach for a football team in South Gyle.

Gavin Edmonds, community and business initiatives officer at Dunedin Canmore, said: “Football is about team work. It’s great for improving fitness and health including mental health. The project has definitely put the young people in a more positive place. The skills they learn can help them move out of poverty and into a better life. It can really help them look to their future.”

Dunedin Canmore's chief executive, Ewan Fraser, added: “We are proud to be associated with the Homeless World Cup and congratulate the team and players on winning this fantastic award.

“Dunedin Canmore is committed to helping others through a number of initiatives and the Employability Pathways Programme is a great example of how we can make a difference by giving people the skills and confidence to help them to move on in their lives.”

Employability Pathways provides advice on finding work, IT-accredited training and a variety of youth projects, and has worked with 172 young people in the last year.

IN DETAIL

Dunedin Canmore