Tag: SPFL Trust

Prostate Football Fans in Training to return following successful pilot programme

The SPFL Trust, in partnership with Prostate Scotland, are continuing their exercise programme for men living with prostate cancer following a hugely successful 12-week pilot programme.

The  initial phase of this project took place in the capital at Tynecastle, delivered by Heart of Midlothian FC and at Ibrox, with Rangers Charity Foundation.

The programme is a tailored version of Football Fans in Training (FFIT), the SPFL Trust’s flagship health and wellbeing programme which takes place at football clubs across the country, helping people to get active and feel fitter, healthier and happier.

The next cohort kicks off on September 19 in Kilmarnock, with The Killie Community, and in the capital, with Heart of Midlothian FC at Tynecastle on September 20.

Working together with experts from Prostate Scotland, the University of Glasgow Health and Wellbeing Institute and The Exercise Clinic, the programme has been developed based on clinical guidelines for men living with prostate cancer, which recommend a structured 12-week exercise programme. 

Prostate FFIT is open to all men living with prostate cancer, who can self-refer online, or be referred by a clinician.  

As well as having the opportunity to take part in exercise supported by trained coaches, participants will learn more about nutrition. They will also receive a personal workbook to help them follow the course and have access to specifically developed videos to continue exercise at home. 

Crucially, Prostate FFIT will create space for men affected by prostate cancer to meet others in a similar situation, offering informal peer support. 

David Plain took part in the pilot programme with Heart of Midlothian FC. “It was really good on a number of levels,” he said. “You immediately have something in common with every single person in the room. We’re all at different stages of our journey, but we all have prostate cancer.

David (fourth from left) and his Prostate FFIT group during a session at Tynecastle 

“There was someone else on the course who had the same treatment as me. It was just good to know that what I was experiencing wasn’t out of the ordinary.

“I’ve continued with exercise after the course. Three of us meet up once a week to go to a fitness class and have a coffee.

“You don’t feel the need to hide the fact that you have Prostate Cancer. Prostate FFIT is a safe place to go and everyone there is going through a similar journey.”

Adam Gaines, Director of Prostate Scotland, said: “We are delighted to be offering these new courses with our partners at the SPFL Trust, The Killie Community and Heart of Midlothian FC.

“Prostate FFIT is aimed at helping tackle the impact prostate cancer can have on the lives of men living with it, especially for those on hormone therapy.

“The benefit of Prostate FFIT courses, offered in professional football clubs, is in providing engaging and helpful exercise and healthy lifestyle sessions, in line with clinical guidelines. Recent research by the University of Glasgow has shown many benefits that Prostate FFIT courses can have on men living with prostate cancer.”

For more information about the Prostate FFIT, visit: spfltrust.org.uk/prostate-ffit

Big Hearts spread Christmas cheer through Festive Friends campaign

  • Big Hearts Community Trust, the official charity of Heart of Midlothian FC, is taking part in Festive Friends
  • All 42 community trusts and SPFL clubs involved for the first time, as well as Cowdenbeath (43 in total)
  • Over 4,000 people across Scotland will be supported by Festive Friends this year
  • A record £133,000 has been committed to this year’s campaign
  • This year’s campaign will see the continuation of last year’s doorstep visits to people who are at risk of social isolation
  • While there will also be physical events across the country, including Christmas lunches and dinners at stadiums

Heart of Midlothian FC are bringing Christmas cheer to those that need it most this year by taking part in the biggest-ever Festive Friends programme during the holiday season.

Festive Friends is a brilliant opportunity for clubs to give back to their local communities.

The SPFL Trust programme is now in its seventh year and, for the first time, all 42 SPFL clubs are taking part in the campaign, including Heart of Midlothian FC through their official charity Big Hearts.

Cowdenbeath will also deliver Festive Friends after being granted a year’s grace following their relegation to the Lowland League.

The campaign has the largest-ever fund this year, a total of £133,000, which means the SPFL Trust will be able to support an extra 1,000 people via clubs and community trusts.

As such, the programme is expected to support over 4,000 people this year across Scotland.

It’s been a difficult year so far for everyone with the cost of living crisis, but, of course, winter is always a particularly tough time for the elderly, who are at higher risk of social isolation.

Festive Friends brings Christmas cheer and companionship to elderly people who are socially isolated and at risk of being alone during the festive season.

Almost 9,000 people have enjoyed Festive Friends in the last six years and that number is expected to reach nearly 15,000.

Hampers usually contain food, snacks, essential toiletries, gifts, games and more. Some clubs even send video messages from managers and players; others have players make personal deliveries.

This year, given the current crisis facing the country, the SPFL Trust has also organised for Age Scotland Friendship Line flyers to be distributed in each hamper featuring helpful information.

This year Big Hearts Community Trust staff and volunteers welcomed over 100 older people to Tynecastle, where they get to enjoy a hot Christmas lunch and receive a festive food hamper to take home. 

SPFL Trust CEO Nicky Reid said: “Festive Friends is one of our biggest events at the SPFL Trust and for our colleagues at clubs and community trusts.

“It’s all about coming together to have a real impact in the lives of elderly and isolated people over the festive period – reaching more people than ever this year.

“It’s the Christmas spirit in action as we see the power of football in spades – with clubs spreading cheer in their communities.

“Scottish football is trusted to support, and our recent research shows that almost 83% of people live within ten miles of a SPFL ground – because of this clubs and their associated community trusts are well positioned to effect this type of change in their communities.

“This year 43 SPFL clubs are involved making it our biggest programme yet, supported by a record-breaking fund of £133,000. We look forward to supporting more elderly people than ever before, after all kindness never mattered more.”

Big Hearts Operations Manager Innes Shirreff said: “Big Hearts are delighted to have the support of the SPFL Trust’s Festive Friends programme again this year, which will help us to provide two social gatherings for older people at Tynecastle Park.

“Across the 12th and 13th December, we welcomed over 100 individuals and provided a three-course lunch, as well as gifts and entertainment. These lunches form a key part of our winter engagement for older people and provide an enjoyable afternoon out, in a warm and welcoming environment.

“We are proud to be part of the wider community of football clubs, trusts and foundations across Scotland working to ensure vital support is provided to those who need it during the festive season.”

Big Hearts’ Festive Friends participant Henry Craig, who is 70 years old said:
“Today has been outstanding, the food was excellent, the atmosphere, the friendliness of the staff, the former Hearts players in the room – everyone had a great time. Well done to the people at Big Hearts for organising.

“I’m a Hearts’ supporter and a season ticket holder and I’ve been involved with the charity for almost a year. I love the companionship I get when I come to the stadium. The opportunity to get together for a festive meal was amazing, thank you.” 

For more information on Festive Friends visit: www.spfltrust.org.uk/festivefriends

Pioneering exercise programme for men living with prostate cancer to take place at Tynecastle

The SPFL Trust have teamed up with Prostate Scotland to launch Prostate Football Fans in Training, a new 12-week pilot project for men living with prostate cancer.

The SPFL Trust have teamed up with Prostate Scotland to launch Prostate Football Fans in Training, a new 12-week pilot project for men living with prostate cancer.

An initial phase of this project will take place in the capital at Tynecastle, delivered by Heart of Midlothian FC.

The pilot is a tailored version of Football Fans in Training (FFIT) the SPFL Trust’s flagship health and wellbeing programme which takes place at football clubs across the country, helping people to get active and feel fitter, healthier and happier.

Working together with experts from Prostate Scotland, the University of Glasgow Health and Wellbeing Institute and The Exercise Clinic, the programme has been developed based on clinical guidelines for men living with prostate cancer, which recommend a structured 12-week exercise programme.

Prostate FFIT is open to all men living with prostate cancer, who can self-refer online, or be referred by a clinician.

As well as getting the opportunity to take part in exercise supported by trained coaches, participants will learn more about nutrition. They will also receive a personal workbook to help them follow the course and have access to specifically developed videos to continue exercise at home.

Crucially, Prostate FFIT will create space for men affected by prostate cancer to meet others in a similar situation, offering informal peer support.

For more information about the Prostate FFIT, visit: spfltrust.org.uk/prostate-ffit

SPFL Trust CEO Nicky Reid said: “Football Fans in Training is our flagship health and wellbeing programme, with over 7,000 people completing the initiative over the last 12 years.

“In this time we’ve learnt that a key strength of the programme is the environment – the familiarity of a football club can go a long way in encouraging people to take that first step.

“We are delighted to have been able to work with partners to tailor FFIT for men living with prostate cancer. Exercise is such an important part of their treatment, and we feel privileged to be a small part of their journey.”

Director of Prostate Scotland Adam Gaines said: ““Research and clinical guidelines show the importance of exercise for men with prostate cancer. This new and innovative exercise programme is aimed at helping tackle the impact prostate cancer can have on the lives of men living with prostate cancer, especially for those on hormone therapy.

“The benefit of Prostate FFIT courses, offered in professional football clubs, is in providing engaging, beneficial and helpful exercise and healthy lifestyle courses in line with clinical guidelines. There are too few specialist exercise courses for men with prostate cancer in Scotland. We aim to close that gap.

“We are delighted to have developed Prostate FFIT with our partners the SPFL Trust and the University of Glasgow.”

Chris Cottrell who lives with advanced prostate cancer and is co-founder of The Exercise Clinic who helped to develop the Prostate FFIT said: “My message is that for many, exercise is one of the best ways to get back some control of your life during a period when I certainly felt I was at risk of losing control.

“There are few things that are more bewildering and disempowering than being told that you have cancer, so regaining a sense of agency is vital. There is now strong evidence that men with prostate cancer who exercise consistently have a better survival rate.”

Gregg Veitch, Community Football Officer at Heart of Midlothian, said: “We are delighted to be involved in the pilot delivery of Prostate FFIT. We have seen first-hand how beneficial FFIT can be to our supporters and are delighted to be able to offer this programme to even more people. 

“Prostate FFIT will kick off Tuesday 17th Janaury at Tynecastle. To get involved, contact Gregg Veitch by emailing GreggVeitch@homplc.co.uk “