Hibernian Community Foundation among SPFL clubs taking part in Festive Friends programme

Hibernian Community Foundation among SPFL clubs taking part in Festive Friends programme

Hibernian Community Foundation 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 programme is now in its sixth year, with 41 SPFL clubs taking part in the campaign this year, including Hibernian Community Foundation. The Scottish Professional Football League Trust is helping 26 clubs become ‘festive friends’ to hundreds of socially isolated older people the length and breadth of the country.

In another powerful demonstration of the positive impact football can make in local communities, 487 socially isolated older people have been invited to their local SPFL stadiums to enjoy a free Christmas meal, receive a gift and meet new friends including staff from the clubs. The SPFL Trust – an independent, registered charity that works in partnership with all 42 SPFL Clubs to develop community activities across Scotland – officially announced the new project today with a number of clubs and charitable trusts having already hosted their Festive Friends events.

The campaign has the largest fund ever this year, a total of £100,000, which means the SPFL Trust will be able to more than DOUBLE the number of people clubs are able to support. As such, the programme is expected to support over 3,000 people this year.

It’s been a tough few years for everyone due to Covid-19, but of course it has been especially difficult 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 4,000 people have enjoyed an event in the last five years and last yearʼs new-look initiative, when it was not possible to hold events due to physical distancing rules, was also a huge success with over 2,800 people receiving Christmas hampers in doorstep visits. Hampers contained food, snacks, essential toiletries, gis, games and more. Some clubs even brought video messages from managers and players; others had players make personal deliveries.

This year Hibernian Community Foundation staff and volunteers will continue to visit participants with hampers and welcome participants to the Easter Road to enjoy a hot Christmas lunch and fun and games.

“Festive Friends is a real highlight of the year for me and my colleagues at SPFL Clubs. It’s all about good old fashioned Christmas spirit – bringing club staff and volunteers together to reach elderly people who are at risk of social isolation.”

“Scottish Football is trusted to support, and our recent recearch 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 41 SPFL clubs are involved making it our biggest programme yet, supported by a record-breaking fund of £100,000. We look forward to supporting more elderly people than ever before, aer all kindness never mattered more.”

Nicky Reid, SPFL Trust CEO