First Minister Alex Salmond MSP and Sir Tom Farmer CVO CBE KCSG DL today (27th January) officially opened the Hibernian Learning Centre at Easter Road Stadium.

 The Learning Centre, set up by the Hibernian Community Foundation in partnership with Jewel & Esk College, reaches out to a wide range of people and offers them a variety of courses in a new and different environment, combining the pull of the Club with the expertise of the College.

The Hibernian Learning Centre is a place where people who are nervous of education, or who might otherwise not have access to learning, can take the first steps to develop their skills within the inspiring surrounds of Hibernian FC.

The Learning Centre has a particular focus on:

• Those seeking to develop or enhance skills for employment including IT, literacy and numeracy
• Young people who are or have been in care, migrant workers and families for whom English is not their first language
• Ex-offenders and young people at risk of offending
• People who are homeless
• Voluntary sector agencies and their staff
• Building community cohesion and developing positive attitudes to health and fitness

Through the development of links with local voluntary and community groups, the Learning Centre will also provide a meeting place and training facility for the local area.

First Minister Alex Salmond said: “This is an excellent example of one of Scotland’s great footballing institutions using its influence to benefit the local community. The partnership between the Hibernian Community Foundation and Jewel & Esk College will ensure that the centre is able to offer lasting learning opportunities for local people. The Scottish Government is committed to helping everyone in Scotland fulfil their full potential, that’s why we are investing significantly to develop the skills of workers who support learning in the community.”

Susan Deacon, Chair of the Hibernian Community Foundation was delighted to see the Learning Centre officially opened “There has never been a more important time for people and organisations to work together for the benefit of local communities. The Hibernian Learning Centre is a shining example of practical partnership working. Together with Hibernian Football Club and Jewel & Esk College, the Foundation has been able to realise the vision of the Club’s supporters to create a resource that will make a real difference to people’s lives. We’ve been running courses since September and even at this early stage we’re seeing how the pull of football is able to engage people in learning. That is the true magic of the Hibernian Learning Centre.”

Peter Malcolm, Acting Principal at Jewel & Esk explains the college’s input, “It’s just fantastic that we have been able to work with Hibernian Community Foundation towards what is a joint aim - making learning more accessible to the wider community.  At Jewel & Esk we have experience with learners who are nervous of education.  This can be for a whole host of reasons - family commitments, physical ailments, lack of confidence or negative experiences in their past.  The beauty of our partnership with the Community Foundation is that by working together we can break down barriers and offer people access to education at a level and in an environment they are comfortable with.”

Scott Lindsay, Hibernian Football Club Chief Executive added: “From the Club’s consultation process with community groups and supporter organisations it was clear that a Learning Centre was seen by many as a priority need for the area.   We, as a Club, were fortunate enough to have space available within the stadium complex and took the decision that this should be given over to Community Learning rather than exploited for commercial benefit.  Being located at Easter Road gives the Hibernian Learning Centre a unique attraction – it’s not a traditional educational environment and it’s a place that local people will be excited to visit. The flexibility provided by Jewel & Esk means that the breadth and level of learning provided will be driven by the needs of the local community.”

Sir Tom Farmer, Principal Shareholder of Hibernian FC sums up: “Hibernian is a Community Club; one that has always strived to remain true to its origins. This Learning Centre will provide opportunities for local people of all ages to improve or continue to develop their skills within the inspiring surroundings of the football club. It is vital the Club offers facilities from which the local people and community groups can benefit. The Learning Centre is an exciting step forward in addressing this objective.”