Pitch to plate with @Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society – SABS is back for 2025!
Our monthly multicultural meal starts for the year next Tuesday at the new Hibernian Community Hub, within the Famous Five Stand at Easter Road.
There is no need to register, you can come whenever you like between 5.50pm at 8pm for great food and even better company!
We look forward to seeing you there for a great kick-start to 2025! 
Football clubs and trusts across Scotland will receive additional funding to boost efforts to eradicate child poverty.
In the capital, four clubs – Spartans Community Foundation, Big Hearts, Hibernian Community Foundation and Edinburgh South Community FC – will all receive substantial government support.
The Scottish Government will double its investment in the Extra Time Programme, a joint initiative with the Scottish Football Association, from £2 million to £4 million for this financial year.
The funding will support more free before and after school clubs, and holiday clubs for children from families on low incomes.
By giving around a projected 3,000 children each week free access to sport and other activities which wrap around the school day, the funding will help more parents to enter or sustain employment or training.
First Minister John Swinney made the announcement during a visit to Pollok United’s after-school activity club where he heard about the contribution innovative childcare options are making to the eradication of child poverty.
Mr Swinney said: “We know funding from the Extra Time Programme is enabling football clubs and trusts to provide really valuable childcare options, particularly for families from low-income households who are most at risk of living in poverty.
“By removing barriers to affordable and accessible childcare, we will contribute to the eradication of child poverty. I will shortly set out further views on this crucial issue in Parliament.
“At the Nethercraigs Sports Facility, I saw children enjoying a healthy snack and fun activities including arts and crafts and sports. Parents have told Pollok United the service helps with food and childcare costs, relieving pressure on stretched family budgets.
“Like many others, I will be supporting Scotland at Euro 2024 when it gets underway in Germany this week. But the Extra Time Programme is a reminder that local football clubs are supporting communities here at home – providing valuable services beyond matchday. They understand the value of that support for local families, and they are well placed to provide crucial facilities and services.”
SFA Chief Executive Ian Maxwell said: “We are delighted to announce this additional funding in conjunction with the Scottish Government to extend the Extra Time Programme.
“The benefits have been clear to see and it’s vital that we continue to offer support for families to allow children and young people to access as much physical activity as possible.
“As well as the thousands of children who will engage with the game, clubs are often the heartbeat of their local communities and it’s just as important that we offer more opportunities for parents and carers too. This programme is a great example of how impactful the power of football can be.”
A Spartans spokesperson said: “We are delighted to be part of this delivery in North Edinburgh, supporting families in our community and providing after school and holiday clubs for young people.”
Pollok United Community Engagement and Funding Lead Deborah McCabe said: “Pollok United is delighted to be involved in this innovative Scottish Government and SFA collaboration.
“It has enabled us to provide a service that not only supports families during this cost of living crisis by offering free childcare provision, it also demonstrates that grassroots football organisations are well placed to deliver successful wider socio-economic support within communities, resulting in meaningful outcomes for those involved.”
EXTRA TIME funding:
| Club | Region | Project Budget |
| Aberdeen FC Community Trust | North | £108,600.00 |
| Broxburn United Sports Club | South East | £149,700.00 |
| Celtic FC Foundation | West | £84,608.00 |
| Dundee United Community Trust | East | £89,130.00 |
| Dundee United Sports Club 1984 | East | £143,136.20 |
| Dundee West Community Trust | East | £104,010.00 |
| Edinburgh South Community FC | South East | £135,000.00 |
| Falkirk Community Football Foundation | Central | £149,884.34 |
| Glenrothes Strollers Community FC | East | £134,335.00 |
| Heart of Midlothian Football Club | South East | £158,250.60 |
| Hibernian Community Foundation Ltd | South East | £149,844.00 |
| Inverness CT Community Development | North | £250,772.00 |
| Montrose Community Trust | East | £100,185.00 |
| Morton in the Community | West | £82,946.25 |
| Motherwell FC Community Trust | Central | £120,066.50 |
| North Kelvin Sports Development Group | West | £131,214.00 |
| Partick Thistle Charitable Trust | West | £183,238.47 |
| Pollok United | West | £61,610.00 |
| Queen of the South Community Trust | South West | £112,000.00 |
| Queens Park FC Foundation | West | £79,218.40 |
| Rangers Charity Foundation | West | £126,289.00 |
| Spartans Community Foundation | South East | £178,544.00 |
| St Mirren FC Charitable Foundation | West | £151,300.00 |
| Wasp Community Club | Central | £110,811.00 |
| The Killie Community | South West | £53,923.45 |
| Ayr United | South West | £226,630.00 |
| Blantyre Soccer Academy | South West | £126,220.00 |
| Cumnock Juniors Community Enterprise | South West | £31,000.00 |
| Inverkeithing Hillhead Swifts / Blairgowrie and Rattray | East | £80,000 |
| Ross County | North | £55,384.10 |
Hibernian Community Foundation is delighted to be hosting a multi-cultural meal on Tuesday 28th May! 
In partnership with Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society – SABS – we will be opening the doors to the Hibernian Supporters Club for a warm and welcoming multi-cultural meal 
You can contact info@hiberniancf.org for further details
HIBERNIAN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION at TRINITY HUB
This week we are launching our Trinity hub – we are running lots of activities that you can get involved in!
Check out the flyer (above) to see where you can attend
Follow this link to sign up or email samanthaw@hiberniancf.org …https://hibs-community-foundation.classforkids.io
FREE EVENT AT EASTER ROAD STADIUM TOMORROW
HIBERNIAN Community Foundation is hosting an event at Easter Road through Older Peoples Week! The Older Peoples Activity Day is a FREE event taking place between 12pm – 4pm tomorrow (Thursday 5 October).
For further information or to book your place for this event, contact lewis@hiberniancf.org
Hibernian Community Foundation have announced an exciting new partnership with local older people’s charity LifeCare.
The renowned charity provides positive care for hundreds of older people every day but is struggling to cope with unprecedented demand for its services. LifeCare launched an emergency appeal late last year to help reach more older people across the city and the Hibernian Community Foundation have added their support.
James Wells, Chief Executive of LifeCare said “We are extremely worried about those in our community. Local older people are still coming to terms with the aftermath of the covid restrictions; abilities and mobility deteriorated rapidly and now with the new cost of living crisis, enquiries for our help are rising – up 250% for some services.
We are very grateful to receive new support from Hibernian Community Foundation. Thanks to their generosity, we have already been able to increase our care for those that need us most.
Together we delivered hot festive meals to clients who were alone at Christmas. Our clients enjoyed seeing a friendly face and having a chat with the delivery team. We are in the process of planning other positive initiatives which will allow us to reach more local older people with positive and caring support and activities.
We look forward to continuing our work together to help ensure that no older person is left alone or isolated.”
Lewis Melee, Head of Community at Hibernian Community Foundation, recently visited one of the charity’s registered daycentres on Cheyne Street to meet some of LifeCare’s clients and join in with the day’s activities.
He said “Supporting the members of the local community is so important to the foundation and club. It was lovely meeting LifeCare’s clients and hearing how they used to visit the stadium in years past.
This winter we’re organising two lunch clubs every week, and a memories and reminiscence group at the home of Hibernian FC, Easter Road Stadium. These services are open to everyone and with this partnership we hope to extend our offering – you don’t have to be a Hibee to come along!”
Visit https://www.lifecare-edinburgh.org.uk/ to donate or find out more about the charity’s services across the city.
We are delighted to be part of @SPFLTrust Winter Response Fund 2023
Starting 25th January we have a free lunch offering for our community to attend
In our community hub space we have hot meals and access to wi-fi / devices, book swap & clothing bank.
Cyrenians Golden Years, in partnership with Hibernian Football Club and Hibernian Community Foundation hosted their second Gamechanger Baffies n Blankets Big Slipper give-away lunch at Hibs stadium in Easter Road yesterday (Monday 14 November 2022).
Amy Karp, Service Manager for Golden Years, said: “The day was a great success with around 80 people joining us for our big slipper event, some of whom enjoy our free Gamechanger Lunch every Monday at the Stadium.”
Each person received a free pair of brand new, high quality, safe and cosy baffies (more like indoor shoes). We had 3 podiatrists on hand to give everyone a precise measurement. We also threw in a cosy blanket for chilly winter evenings.”
The event comes at a good time when the Cost of Living Crisis is forcing many people, including older people to make difficult choices such as having a hot meal or putting the heating on. A well fitted pair of quality slippers can help keep the warmth in and importantly reduce the risk of trips and falls in the home.
Lewis Melee, CEO of the Hibernian Community Foundation, said: “Hibernian Community Foundation has a long and proud tradition of being at the centre of the community and providing support.
“We see every community members’ health and wellbeing as a priority and this is a small part of what we do to support every year.
“Hibernian CF are pleased to be working with Cyrenians. We share values including innovation and respect in working with older people.”
The Changing Room for young women delivered in partnership with partners @SAMHtweets at Easter Road Stadium has a new start date later this month.
See above for more info on the latest 12 week courses and for contact details.
Hibernian Community Foundation and Big Hearts Community Trust are set to meet for a fundraising football game on Sunday 10th October, to mark World Mental Health Day.
It’s the first time that both charitable arms of the Edinburgh football clubs, Hibernian FC and Heart of Midlothian FC, will come together on the same pitch to raise awareness around wellbeing and mental health. The game is kindly supported by charity partner Utilita Energy.
Kick-off is 4pm at Ainslie Park. Tickets are now on sale. All proceeds will go to fund our community projects across Edinburgh.
A single-entry ticket is priced at £5 or £2 for concessions and discounted family ticket at £10.
Tickets are available via Fanbase > Utilia Energy > Store > Events > Utilita Charity Challenge Cup > Buy Tickets.
Every year, the 10th of October is a reminder that 1 in 3 people will experience mental health issues at some point in their life. We are delighted to be joining efforts with the Hibernian FC charity on this special occasion, using the reach of football to share information on support services available across the city.
Keep your eyes peeled for further event details, including opportunities for supporters to get involved and support their team on the day!
