Hibs and council work together to provide Christmas presents to children in care

Hibernian Community Foundation are working in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council to provide £1000 worth of Christmas presents to children and young people in care.

Edinburgh has corporate parenting responsibly for around 1350 children and young people who are looked after and around 900 young people who have left care and are eligible for Throughcare and Aftercare services.

The Foundation has contributed to ground breaking work in disability football, support for people moving into employment, educational tours for local schools and various activities to improve the health and fitness of male and female members of the Hibernian family. And the breadth and depth of our activity continues to grow.

Key to their approach is partnership with fans, volunteers, Hibernian Football Club and a wide range of organisations who share their hopes and aspirations.

The foundation insist that by working together they can achieve much more – creating positive impact in the community and bringing a sense of achievement and enjoyment for all who are involved.

In the New Year the foundation will be taking forward a programme to support care leavers with opportunities in learning and employment.

Charlie Bennett, Chief Executive Officer of Hibernian Community Foundation said “We are really delighted to be working with the City of Edinburgh Council to make a difference to the lives of children and young people in care. The Foundation is committed to improving people’s lives and we are more than happy to make this Christmas donation.”

Councillor Cathy Fullerton, chair of the Corporate Parenting Group at the City of Edinburgh Council, said:”I’m delighted that the Hibernian Community Foundation are donating £1000 worth of Christmas presents to looked after children in Edinburgh.

“Corporate parenting is not just a responsibility for us all, but an opportunity to turn around and improve the life chances and outcomes for each and every one of our looked after children in Edinburgh. We are ensuring that being in care a positive experience which gives young people the care, stability and safety which every child deserves.

“The Hibernian Community Foundation are keen to support Edinburgh’s Corporate Parenting Plan and recent legislation has given us the opportunity to move this agenda forward and extend our partnership working to ensure continuous improvements for looked after children and care leavers.”

Photo, left to right: Charlie Bennett, Chief Executive Officer of Hibernian Community Foundation; Cllr Cathy Fullerton, of the Corporate Parenting Group at the of the City of Edinburgh Council; and Scott Dunbar, Service Manager for Looked After and Accommodated Children for the City of Edinburgh Council.