Housing and care provider Bield has scored with residents after offering them season tickets to their favourite football games.

Football memories, an innovative project introduced at Haugh Street Care Home in Stockbridge, gives residents the opportunity to attend Hibernian FC and Heart of Midlothian FC matches on a rota basis allowing them to relive their football loving youth.

The scheme was put in place by Haugh Street’s deputy manager, Lynn Gibson, after the development received £10,000 funding from the Queensberry Trust and Small Change Trust.

Lynn said: “I think the football memories project is fantastic, it is a great opportunity for our residents to enjoy a day out and go see the teams that they have supported since they were younger.

“Many haven’t been to games for nearly 40 years so they always thoroughly enjoy themselves.

“We knew how much our residents loved football so when we received £10,000 funding buying season tickets seemed like the perfect way to use the grants.”

The football memories programme fits perfectly with Bields ‘Free to Be’ ethos which lets people live their lives the way they want to with the added reassurance that Bield are there to support them when they need it.

Lynn added: “It’s great seeing everyone get excited in the run up to the matches and when they get to the ground and the match kicks off you can see in their faces how much they are enjoying themselves. I think this project has really helped enhance and enrich their lives.”

“It is something that the tenants always look forward to, and we are grateful for the funding which allows us to give them opportunities like this.”