Killie stars surprise Easter camp youngsters with special visit

Youngsters attending an inclusive Easter holiday camp in Kilmarnock were treated to a special surprise when three Premiership players dropped in to meet them.

Kilmarnock FC stars Robbie Deas, David Watson and Lewis Mayo paid a visit to The Killie Community’s Easter programme, posing for photos, signing autographs and helping create lasting memories for the children and young people taking part.

Jordan Allison, head of charity at The Killie Community, said the visit had a huge impact.

“Seeing the smiles on the young people’s faces when the players walked in was incredible. Moments like that stay with them for a long time,” he said.

The player appearance formed part of a wider Easter programme delivered by the award-winning charity, which welcomed 142 young people over the school holidays.

Designed as a full-day provision, the camp gave children and young people a safe and inclusive place to stay active, socialise and enjoy nutritious meals throughout the day.

Activities included football, multi-sports and creative sessions, with young people also making use of the Hub’s Astro Room, arts and crafts studio and the community pitch outside Rugby Park. One of the biggest attractions was the inflatable “SockGoal”, which proved a major hit with those attending.

The programme was carefully designed to be fully inclusive, supporting young people with additional support needs, learning disabilities and mobility challenges, helping to ensure everyone could take part and enjoy the experience.

Support from Cash for Kids and private donors, including BNI Kappa Kilmarnock Chapter, helped make the programme accessible for many families, with a number of places offered free of charge during a time when cost-of-living pressures remain a challenge for households across the area.

Organisers said that once the young people arrived, the focus was entirely on fun, friendship and shared experiences, with children from different backgrounds and circumstances coming together and building connections.

Mr Allison added: “This programme is about much more than activities. It is about giving young people a safe place to be active and enjoy good food during the school holidays. None of it would be possible without the support we receive, and it is making a real difference to families in our community.”

The Killie Community continues to deliver holiday provision that reaches far beyond sport, combining activity, nutrition and community support in a way that benefits both young people and their families.