The Heart of Midlothian Education and Community Trust is now recognised by supporters, stakeholders, sponsors, partners and fellow Scottish Premier League clubs has a highly successful charity.

The Trust's community development Manager Alan White provides a quick-fire round-up of latest news, here...

The Heart of Midlothian Education and Community Trust is continuing to deliver a wide range of innovative and impressive activities throughout Edinburgh, Fife, Scottish Borders and the Lothians.

The Scottish Government funded Kick Start programme, in partnership with Midlothian Council, was launched here on heartsfc.co.uk a few weeks ago and has provided an opportunity for 22 selected pupils to participate in projects such as match reporting and sports science in-house here at Tynecastle combined with coaching sessions at the Hearts Football Academy.

The Hearts Learning Centre (launched last Friday) has just delivered a BIIA (British Institute of Innkeepers Association) certificate in alcohol awareness with 4th year students form Broxburn Academy in West Lothian. These 16 students have been the first to sample the benefits and new technology installed into the centre and we look forward to accommodating additional students, adults and organisations from our community very soon.

Tynie Kickers is the latest edition to our ever expanding and popular Grassroots programme. These sessions cater for budding (very) young footballers in the pre-school 3-5 year age range and focus on generic activities to promote balance, co-ordination, agility and social skills in a football themed environment. And where could be more football themed than the Hearts Football Academy every Sunday morning?

The AEGON Breakfast Club programme continues to grow and impress with two clubs being funded recently. St David's and Pirniehall Primary Schools in north Edinburgh have been funded by KPMG, whilst Sykes have come on board to sponsor Sighthill Primary School in the west of the city.

Interest from other business has been good so far and we aim to launch additional clubs in the very near future. If you or you know anyone who has a business who would like to get involved in this extremely worthwhile venture please click here for more information.

The Magnificent Seven programme launched in September of last year has been nothing short of...er...magnificent! We now only have three presentation evenings left to deliver, taking place in March, and this will result in us giving away 3,500 home shirts and pairs of tickets to primary three pupils from Edinburgh, Midlothian, West Lothian, East Lothian, Fife and Scottish Borders.

This has been a quite incredible programme and one both the Trust and Hearts are extremely proud of. We hope to see many of our Magnificent Sevens here at Tynecastle on lots more Matchdays in the near future!