Big Hearts, the charity of Heart of Midlothian FC, has unveiled a brand new, fully equipped Sensory Room in the Wheatfield Stand at Tynecastle Park.
The new facility was delivered in partnership with the Club and saw the former ticket booth within The Shed turned into a custom-built inclusive space accessible all year long to young people engaged in Big Hearts’ activities. This project was made possible through a £18,400 grant from Wooden Spoon, the Children’s Charity of Rugby.
The new facility was officially opened by former Hearts player and Scotland rugby international David Johnston, who joined families, staff, volunteers and supporters to celebrate a major step forward in accessibility and inclusion for young people with Additional Support Needs (ASN).
Designed with tailored lighting, tactile resources, sound control and specialist seating, the Wooden Spoon Sensory Room helps reduce anxiety, support sensory processing and promote emotional regulation enabling young people to fully engage in group sessions and one-to-one therapeutic counselling.
Big Hearts revealed that over 160 young people are already benefiting from this dedicated space, including neurodivergent children involved in the Neuro Stars programme, as well as other young participants living with learning disabilities, blindness or brain injury. Other ways to open up the space to more people with ASN are currently being explored by Big Hearts and the Club.
Craig Wilson, Chief Exec at Big Hearts said: “This bespoke Sensory Room, developed with Heart of Midlothian FC, marks an important step forward in Big Hearts’ provision to young people with additional support needs by offering them a safe and soothing environment to explore, self-regulate and be themselves. Wooden Spoon’s vision to change young people’s lives through sport aligns with Big Hearts’ work and we are deeply grateful for their generous investment in this vital community resource at Tynecastle Park.”
Gavin Hastings OBE, Honorary President of Wooden Spoon Edinburgh Region, said: “Wooden Spoon exists to change the lives of children and young people facing disadvantage, and this project at Tynecastle Park is a perfect example of what our supporters make possible. The Sensory Room will open doors, quite literally, for families who need a safe, welcoming space to feel included. We’re incredibly proud to fund this facility and to see the impact it will have across the Big Hearts community.”
– March 2026 –
