Battle of the Badges 2025 launches in Dundee with a brand new collaboration with Change Centre Dundee, Street Soccer Scotland

The Archie Foundation and Change Centre Dundee (Soccer Street Scotland) partner for football fundraising event

We’re incredibly excited to announce our brand new collaboration with Change Centre Dundee (Soccer Street Scotland).  We have teamed up together to support families in Tayside with funds raised through our ‘Blue Light’ football tournament and free family fun day event Battle of the Badges!

Dundee and Tayside’s emergency first responders and medical staff will go head-to-head in five-a-side football matches, all with the ‘goal’ of collectively raising funds for The Archie Foundation Tayside and Change Centre Dundee (Street Soccer Scotland).

Funds raised before and during the event will support The Archie Foundation in delivering vital services for babies, children and their families in Tayside, alongside supporting programmes at Change Centre Dundee (Soccer Street Scotland)’s hub of support for the local community.

New to the Battle of the Badges event, which kicks off on Saturday, 25th October at the Change Centre Dundee, is the addition of a free family fun day running alongside the football matches with inflatables, beat the goalie challenges and the chance to explore the emergency service’s vehicles and meet their teams!

Rebecca Duncan, Business Development and Fundraising Manager at The Archie Foundation Tayside, said that partnering with Change Centre Dundee (Street Soccer Scotland) would support in making this year’s event the best one yet.

Rebecca continued: “We are excited to partner with Change Centre Dundee, Street Soccer Scotland to host our 2025 Battle of the Badges event.

“This collaboration will help us to build meaningful community connections as we work together to make a real impact and support even more children, young people, and families across the region. Taking place this October, our free-to-attend event will bring together emergency services, local supporters and the wider community for a day of friendly competition, activities and fundraising.

“We are also now launching our call for corporate participation and sponsors for the event, so if you are interested, we encourage you to get in touch today.”

Teams competing in the tournament will be raising funds ahead of the event and the public are encouraged to support all those taking part.

Kyle Fraser, social enterprise manager at Change Centre Dundee (Street Soccer Scotland), said: “Change Centre Dundee is thrilled to join forces with our trusted partner, The Archie Foundation Tayside, and our local heroes from the emergency services for the highly anticipated Battle of the Badges event.

“This exciting event aims to shine a spotlight on the remarkable work carried out by each emergency service, while providing a fun and engaging opportunity to bring the community together. It’s also a chance to strengthen relationships, foster collaboration, and celebrate the spirit of teamwork that unites us all. We look forward to welcoming everyone to the Change Centre Dundee soon.”

Danny Millar, crew commander of Amber Watch at Macalpine Road Community Fire Station, and captain for last year’s tournament winning Team Fire, said: “As proud returning champions of the Battle of the Badges event, we know that while there’s a friendly rivalry on the pitch, the true winners are the babies, children and families supported by The Archie Foundation Tayside and Change Centre Dundee (Street Soccer Scotland).

“We are looking forward to stepping on the pitch again this October for what promises to be another fantastic event, and we would love the public’s support in helping us raise as much as possible for this vital cause.”

Limited sponsorship opportunities for the event are available for the Battle of the Badges event, and companies interested in participation are encouraged to get in touch.

Visit Battle of the Badges – Archie to find out more about the Battle of Badges event, including how to participate.

You can help teams signed up already get off to a flying start by sharing their Fundraising pages!

Team Fire ( Battle of the Badges – Team Fire – JustGiving)

Team Police (Battle of The Badges 2025 – Team Police – JustGiving)

Team NHS (Battle of the Badges 2025 – Team NHS Tayside – JustGiving)

We can’t wait to see you there!