The Heart of Midlothian Education and Community Trust today announces the launch of a new Adult Literacy initiative to be based at Tynecastle Stadium, Spartans Community Football Academy and Clovenstone Amateur Boxing Club.

Heart of Midlothian Education and Community Trust, Adult Learning Project (ALP) Association, Spartans Community Football Academy, City Literacy and Numeracy Project (CLAN), City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) and Clovenstone Amateur Boxing Club will work together to deliver literacy and numeracy classes using sport, and in particular football and boxing.

This initiative has been made possible through generous funding from the HBOS Foundation.

These classes will take place at Tynecastle Stadium, the new Spartans Community Football Academy and Clovenstone Amateur Boxing Club. They will offer anyone over the age of 18 the opportunity learn a range of new practical skills.

This programme will seek to address the worrying statistic that an estimated 23% of adult Scots have significant literacy/numeracy needs.

Hearts, Spartans, Clovenstone Amateur Boxing Club, ALP and CLAN have formed a partnership to look at innovative ways of reaching people who live in areas of urban deprivation or who are on low incomes.

Alan White, Community Development Manager at the Heart of Midlothian Education and Community Trust, hailed the latest development to be rolled out since the Trust's inception almost two years ago.

"We are pleased to announce the development of another great community initiative in partnership with other committed community organisations," he said.

"In addition to the AEGON Breakfast Club programme, Hearts Learning Centre and the successful Magnificent Seven scheme, the development of this Adult Literacy Programme will use the 'power of sport', football and boxing in particular, to inspire and motivate individuals within our catchment area.

"We would like to thank the HBOS Foundation for recognising the importance of initiatives which support adult literacy and for their generous contribution to the programme."

Craig Graham, Chairman of the Spartans Community Football Academy added, "This initiative is exactly the type of programme we are looking to support and deliver for the people of North Edinburgh. Our Academy is delighted to support this initiative. We look forward to hosting the Programme in our new site later in the year."

Any adults keen to get involved with this programme or who require further information, please contact John Player at the City of Edinburgh Council on john.player@ea.edin.sch.uk or 0131 221 5800

The Adult Literacy Programme aims to provide support and training to adults:

- who want to develop their reading and writing skills. 
- who wish to develop employability; competency and increase their earning power. 
- who want to build up their confidence and assertiveness in groups
- who want to participate in a democratic learning community and become active citizens
- who want to learn about other cultures, challenge racism and sectarian and explore ways of including marginalised groups

This will be achieved by offering a range of learning experiences based on football and boxing

One of these courses has already been successfully established at Tynecastle Stadium called the 'Glory and Dismay of Scottish Football'.

Heart of Midlothian Education and Community Trust

The Heart of Midlothian Education and Community Trust was created in 2006 to form partnerships, create initiatives and further support current practice that will assist schools, community groups and organisations.

Spartans Community Football Academy

With construction well underway, the new £3.3M Spartans Community Football Academy will be open in late summer 2008. The new Academy will provide first class facilities and deliver community coaching programmes for local people. The facility, which will consist of full size floodlit community synthetic pitch, a smaller multi-sport synthetic pitch, a hard court basketball court, a grass stadium pitch, Physiotherapy centre, Club Room and a Board Room which will double up as a learning centre on non match days.

HBOS Foundation

The HBOS Foundation is an independent registered charity No.SCO32942 working with charitable and not-for-profit organisations across the UK, supporting people and their local communities. The Foundation's community giving is focused on two guiding themes; money advice and financial literacy and developing and improving communities.