Hearts extend charitable shirt sponsorship agreement

Scottish Premiership football club Heart of Midlothian has extended its shirt sponsorship agreement with the Save the Children charity.

The new three-year deal will cover the 2018-19 to 2020-21 seasons. Save the Children's branding will appear on the Edinburgh-based club's home and away shirts as part of the deal.

The partnership began in 2015 and has been funded through the philanthropy of a group of benefactors. Financial terms of the new agreement were not disclosed but the initial sum provided by the group was in the seven-figure range, the club said.

The funding has helped support a new set of Save the Children programmes that have been benefiting children and families in and around Edinburgh. Hearts said the club would receive "substantial funding" over the course of the next three years.

Fiona McBain, Save the Children's trustee and vice-chair, said: “Heart of Midlothian Football Club and Save the Children have built a partnership based on shared values and this has been life changing for many of the families that we work with.

“It has allowed us to deliver household grants – including cookers, beds, pushchairs and other essential items to struggling families. In addition to this, we have been funded to run our Families and Schools Together Programme, benefitting nearly 250 families to help their children to learn.

“This iconic partnership has given families throughout Edinburgh and Lothians the tools and skills to make sure children get the best start in life, no matter what their background is.”