New community hub set to open at The Hive in Alloa

The Wasp Community Club announced the initiative as part of an SPFL Trust project.

Community hubs will be located at 10 football stadiums in Scotland, providing a safe space for people to seek help, find hope and connect with essential support services.

Inspired by a successful model at Aberdeen, the initiative aims to replicate this work across the country.

The Wasp Community Club is one of 10 community trusts to receive funding for their hub from the SPFL Trust.

The project will be rolled out in two phases, with the Alloa venue opening in October as part of phase two.

Tony McMinn, from the Wasp Community Club, said: "Through our partnerships with the likes of Home-Start, Clackmannanshire Third Sector Interface and local schools, we will have vulnerable families and young people coming through the doors of our new community hub.

"We expect a lot of footfall.

"There’s a lot of food and fuel poverty in Alloa, and we can work with our partners to help eradicate that."

The hubs will offer more than just a welcoming environment.

Each will provide hot food and a relaxed atmosphere, where people can access advice and support from a range of partner organisations.

These partners will deliver targeted assistance to help with a variety of challenges, from housing and finances - including energy costs - to mental health, physical health, benefits and overall wellbeing.

SPFL Trust CEO, Nicky Reid, said: "The launch of our new community hubs is game changing.

"Things aren’t getting any easier for people in communities across Scotland."

One strand of support on offer is around energy, through the SPFL Trust’s partner SGN.

Their specific focus on energy support and advice is vital, as many families face stress due to rising costs.

Margaret Hamilton, community partnership manager at SGN, said: "The reason we partner with organisations like the SPFL Trust is that they’re already supporting communities we won’t necessarily have access to.

"We have an ambition to support over 100,000 households per year, and we can’t do that alone."