12 May 2010
Promotion for football teams that tackle old divisions (The Scotsman)

FOOTBALL has a reputation for dividing rather than uniting Scottish society. Turf wars between rival fans have led to bloodshed in the past and, even today, team rivalries are hotly stoked on match days.

Sectarian, racist and other offensive chants are ostensibly banned but still pervade supporters' culture. Even the disabled have not been immune, with Rangers' owner David Murray being a particular target of abuse from rival terraces in recent seasons.

So how can this unreconstructed world really foster greater inclusion for the most vulnerable in our society?

Queen Margaret University (QMU) has just been awarded £5,000 from the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) to find out just how much the sport can promote learning and social inclusion, improve health and enhance the opportunities available to local people in the long term.
The university at Musselburgh, just outside Edinburgh, will share the grant with a community charity set up at Hibernian FC, which has been running a programme for disabled players for the past year.
The Hibernian Community Foundation was set up in 2008, led by former health minister Susan Deacon.

It focused on improving health and education and combating exclusion in the local community.

With the Lothian Special Olympics, it has run Lothian Hibernian, which saw players and coaches working with local people who have learning disabilities.

It provided weekly football training sessions to help improve the health, well-being and self-esteem of those who often feel alienated from society in a bid to break down barriers

 Courtesy of Scotsman publications www.scotsman.com

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