Wendy MacAdie appointed Executive Director of Hibernian Community Foundation

The Hibernian Community Foundation has recruited an Executive Director, who will set the course for its future.

Wendy MacAdie, who takes up the post in mid-December, was the unanimous choice following a challenging interview process.

Her role will be of vital importance in driving interest and excitement around Hibernian. Whilst she will be the person responsible for the running of the Hibernian Community Foundation, she will also work closely with the Football Club in delivering the vision for the Club’s work in the community.

Iain Gray, MSP,  Chairman of Hibernian Community Foundation, said: “Wendy has first class experience, and indeed was instrumental in helping us establish the Hibernian Learning Centre in partnership with Jewel & Esk Valley College (post-merger Edinburgh College) when she worked with the College.

“She has extensive and impressive history in the education, health and charitable sectors and is exactly the person we were looking for. Hibernian was established to serve its community, and Wendy will help ensure we build on that ethos in the future.”

Leeann Dempster, Chief Executive of Hibernian FC, said: “We are delighted Wendy has agreed to join us. We will be working closely to help drive the many exciting plans that the Foundation and the Club have been talking about.

“These will help hundreds of people in our communities, will bring a much greater and warmer appreciation of Hibernian, and will ultimately help us grow the supporter base of the Club while doing good things in partnership with others.”

Wendy, a life-long Hibernian supporter, said: “It’s an exciting time to be joining and I know there are some fantastic developments being planned. I am happy to be playing a part in making Hibernian a name everyone can be proud of.”

The Hibernian Community Foundation is a Charity set up by Hibernian Football Club to use the power of sport, and in particular football, to profoundly change peoples’ lives.

The Foundation engages with partners to develop and deliver programmes that will support the key themes of lifelong learning, inclusion, health and wellbeing, community sport and regeneration.

The Foundation engages with the community as a whole but actively seeks to deliver services in particular, to those who are socially disadvantaged throughout Lothian.

The fundraising priorities for the Foundation are to secure funding through its core programmes, leverage from grant making agencies, and other fund raising activities for the continuation and development of its services for community benefit.

The Foundation is in a period of fundamental change with the introduction of a new senior management team within the Football Club and newly planned activities to support the Foundation’s & Club’s commitment to a ‘Hibernian One Club One Community’ culture – this is still very much in development. The Hibernian Community Foundation presently has a number of opportunities for growth via funding from external sources.

The key mission is to use the unique power of sport, and in particular football, to motivate, inspire, and educate people in our communities to profoundly change their lives for the better.