Hearts - Clydesdale Bank supports Heart of Midlothian FC’s Onside programme

Heart of Midlothian star Ruben Palazuelos dropped in on the latest Hearts ‘Onside’ training session as the initiative welcomed the renewed support of SPL sponsor Clydesdale Bank.  Together with Heart of Midlothian Community Development Manager Alan White, the Spanish midfielder accepted a cheque for £5,000 from us before joining in a light training session with the initiatives’ latest students.

Designed by the Heart of Midlothian Education and Community Trust in partnership with East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian Councils, the Onside initiative aims to address some of the issues which have resulted in young people becoming involved in anti-social or criminal behaviour in these local areas.

Supported by project workers from respective Youth Justice departments, each Onside programme involves a wide range of activities covering fitness, drug and alcohol awareness, match report writing skills, and negotiation skills, as well as an ‘end of course’ football match at the Hearts Football Academy.  Typically between 12 and 16 students aged 14-15 take part in each 10-week course which aims to build confidence and encourage healthier lifestyle choices by helping students to understand the consequences of their behaviour.  

Stressing the importance of Clydesdale Bank’s sponsorship to the success of the project, Heart of Midlothian Community Development Manager, Alan White said:
“We are extremely grateful for Clydesdale Bank’s support of our Onside initiative which, in the last three years, has grown into a valuable community programme not only developing important social and personal skills in young people, but also promoting the importance of education, health and personal motivation in achieving success.  The strength of Onside lies in the partnerships that have been formed with local authorities and the level of expertise they can bring to the table when working with young people who require our support.”