Perthshire North MSP, Mr John Swinney, is to host an evening of poetry in aid of Football Memories Scotland.

Football Memories Scotland seeks to train volunteers to spend time with people with dementia who have an interest in football. By talking about teams and matches from the past and using images and memorabilia, they aim to stimulate memories within dementia sufferers.  

The event will be held on 18th April within the Scottish Parliament building, and will see recitations of poems from ‘Mind The Time’, an anthology of football-related poetry.

Commenting, Mr Swinney said:

“I am honoured to support Football Memories Scotland and to help raise awareness of the great work they do. This event promises to be a night of laughter, joy and reflection and I can’t wait to be a part of it.

“Talking about football memories can bring people suffering from dementia together, and lead to wonderful, untold stories and anecdotes emerging from within the group.

“As a football fan myself, it’s great that Football Memories Scotland are not only keeping the memories of our beautiful game alive, but doing so in a way that is of massive benefit to those living with dementia.”

Football Memories Scotland is a partnership between Alzheimer Scotland and the Scottish Football Museum, and is supported by the players of the People's Postcode Lottery and BUPA Care Homes. Last month, the Scottish Government announced that it would enter into a match-funding agreement with the project to facilitate the creation of football memory boxes.