Scotland’s politicians and other influencers have been introduced to the pioneering GameChanger partnership at a Reception held at the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood.
GameChanger is led by Hibernian FC, our charity Hibernian Community Foundation, and NHS Lothian.
The Public Social Partnership (PSP) is supported by Ready for Business, and more than 100 different organisations – including local authorities, universities, colleges, charities and private companies and individuals – have signed up.
The scale of the work being planned by GameChanger – the first Public Social Partnership involving a football club in Scotland – is greater than anything currently being undertaken within the sport.
Several MSPs, notably Iain Gray who chairs Hibernian Community Foundation, Kenny MacAskill, Keith Brown, Malcolm Chisholm and Kezia Dugdale – who sponsored the reception – have already taken a keen interest. A number of leading councillors from Edinburgh were also in attendance, along with people from health, education, social care and the third sector. Scottish FA Chief Executive Stewart Regan was also on hand to lend his support.
The aim is to harness the power of football to tackle social inequality and deliver positive health, learning and social outcomes by using the Club’s physical, digital and emotional assets including Easter Road Stadium and land at Hibernian Training Centre.
Discussions to create a vibrant health hub at Easter Road Stadium – with a brand new approach to delivering primary care – are well underway, as are plans to create a centre for families and children at the Club’s East Lothian training centre. Other major projects are in various stages of planning, including a major community growing project, and a state of the art learning and innovation environment.
There are smaller, roadmap projects also – things like the ongoing partnership with the NHS Living it Up team to deliver health awareness and health checks for supporters on matchdays at Easter Road; and the club’s work in supporting suicide prevention through the Choose Life campaign.
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
