Hibs' Hogg helps schoolkids to kick on

TRANENT schoolkid Benn Tully met a fine role model in Chris Hogg when the Hibs skipper visited youngsters at the end of an eight-week course.

The Kick Start project, which East Lothian Council run in conjunction with Hibs, uses football as part of a training programme to help young people with the transition to adulthood.

The ten S2 schoolchidren who took part in the scheme, now in its third year, were all from Tranent and the course also involved the town's Recharge Youth & Community Facility and Lothian and Borders Police.

As well as attending the "graduation" to present their certificates, Hogg also delivered a workshop for the pupils.

Every Thursday, the pupils spent time after school focusing on issues such as healthy living, alcohol and drugs awareness, anti-social behaviour and career skills, before a football session with a professional Hibs community coach.

Hogg said: "I hope they take on board everything they have learned over the past few weeks."

And Recharge project manager Alan Bell said: "I have seen a positive improvement in the young people's knowledge and major developments in their life skills."