Charitable Hibs snub shirt sponsor

HIBS today revealed they are to launch their own charitable organisation aimed at making a difference to the lives of thousands of people in the Edinburgh area.

And to underline their commitment to the new cause, the Easter Road outfit have turned their backs on the chance to rake in thousands of pounds in shirt sponsorship for their InterToto Cup campaign to support the initiative.

While Whyte & Mackay remain the club's official kit sponsor, UEFA regulations prevent the promotion of high-strength alcohol, a rule which has allowed Hibs to negotiate separate deals for European competition in previous years.

But now, instead of a high profile commercial partner, Mixu Paatelainen's players will have the name of the "Hibernian Community Foundation" emblazoned across their chests when they run out to face Swedish side IF Elfsborg at Easter Road on Sunday. Months of intense planning has gone into the creation of the Foundation which has been officially registered as a charity and will operate as a completely independent entity to the football club.

Hibs believe the move will help consolidate and expand the range of community initiatives it undertakes, having played a significant part in the lives of many in Edinburgh and beyond during the club's 133-year history.

The Foundation is one outcome from the "ground up" approach taken by the club in a process which began last September to review all community objectives and initiatives, collecting the views of stakeholders, local authorities, supporters and charitable organisations via various forums and listening groups.

Today Hibs chief executive Scott Lindsay said: "At the club, we are proud of the huge amount of community work that we have been delivering for many years now.

"However, this development recognises that we can make better use of the power that the football club has to influence, motivate and inspire people. We have listened to the views and have created this Foundation to ensure that we turn ideas and aspirations into deliverable and meaningful programmes. The club is totally committed to supporting the Foundation as demonstrated by the fact that we have handed full sponsorship rights to it for the InterToto Cup campaign."

Although some members of the football club board will sit on the board of the new body, it will be independently chaired and will also contain a number of independent members with relevant expertise from organisations within the voluntary, public and private sectors.

The main charitable purposes of the Foundation, which will be officially launched later this summer, have been identified as the advancement of education, health and citizenship, community development, public participation in sport, promotion of equality and diversity and the prevention of exclusion.

Tom McFarlane, a founding board member who has worked with Four Square (Scotland), one of Edinburgh's leading homeless charities, said: "We have a real opportunity here to make a difference to the lives of thousands of people, which in itself is an exciting prospect.

"I am confident that over the coming months and years the Foundation will strengthen and expand the pivotal role that Hibernian Football Club plays in the community."