Hibs Heroes a hit with the next generation this Easter

Every school break Hibernian Community Foundation is proud to offer families from across Edinburgh the opportunity to send their children to Hibs Heroes football camps, and this past Easter was one of our biggest ever.

The camps present an opportunity for kids to expand on their footballing prowess, participate in small-sided games and tournaments, and make new friends through their love of football. Not only that, for parents it’s an opportunity for childcare that prioritises keeping their child active and healthy.

Over the two weeks of Easter holidays HCF hosted camps at Leith Academy and Bangholm Outdoor Centre, as well as Easter Monday at World of Football at Marine Drive. Across all camps almost 250 kids participated, no doubt leaving the camps with new friends and more skills in their footballing repertoire.

“Everything we do at the camps is designed around ‘what would a kid want?’” says Samantha Windram, HCF Football Development Officer and lead on Hibs Heroes camps.

“The kids are loving the small sided games and tournaments at the moment, so we try to involve those at the ends of the weeks, keeping them interested all week.”

Samantha has been with HCF for four years, first joining as a volunteer coach. In her time leading camps, numbers have doubled for Easter Camps and are continuously rising for across the calendar.

“I’m always asking myself and the coaches ‘how can we get kids excited to be here’ and ‘what can we do better?’”

As a result of this desire to be better every camp, the team have introduced Player of the Day awards, a new way to keep kids hungry over the course of the week.

“It doesn’t always go to the best player, but often the kids who are doing the most to include others and better themselves and those around us. The kids are really looking forward to it each day and they put more effort in, in all areas.”

Parents of kids attending Hibs Heroes camps are safe in the knowledge that Samantha and her team of coaches will go over and above to include their kids in every aspect of the week, and that each child will be looked out for.

“The best thing I can hear from any parent is that their kid felt welcomed and included in the camp. We build rapport over the course of the week and we absolutely love to see the kids come out of their shell by the end of the week and show their true self.”

As part of the ambition to provide footballing opportunities for all, regardless of their background, HCF funded 24 spots at Leith Academy for less fortunate families through finances provided by the Extra Time programme.

Camps also provide the rare opportunity for attendees to meet their Hibs heroes, with table topping Hibs Women’s players Abbie Ferguson and Kirsty Morrison coming to Leith Academy to answer all manner of questions ranging from who their favourite opponent to score against is, what it’s like to be a professional athlete, and the big one: Messi vs Ronaldo.

In the past numerous Men’s players have also joined camps, with Hibs’ captain Joe Newell attending in a recent February camp.

In 2025 parents can expect camps throughout summer, over the September break weekend, in the October term break, and one before Christmas. To keep an eye on upcoming camps scan the QR code here.