Today, Big Hearts is launching a new campaign asking supporters to consider leaving a gift in their will for the charity.
Big Hearts Community Trust – the official charity of Heart of Midlothian Football Club – is keen to make supporters aware of the option to leave a legacy at Tynecastle Park.
The campaign ‘Leave love, leave a legacy to Big Hearts’ would see any funds received put into projects that support Big Hearts’ ambitious strategy for the local community. The initiative is structured in such a way that Hearts supporters can kindly leave a set amount, however big or small, in their will to support the charity’s work.
Inspired by Jambo Alec Cowan, who left £40,000 to the charity in 2018, Big Hearts are keen to give Hearts’ supporters the option to leave a legacy with the non-profit organisation based at the Hearts’ Stadium. Alec’s nephew, Robert Cowan, and Robert’s siblings Paula, Martin and Lyndsey, ensured his uncle’s desire to give back to his beloved Hearts and local Gorgie community was fulfilled as he arranged for the money to reach Big Hearts. A former financial advisor, solicitor at McClure solicitors and current Jambos season ticket holder, Robert was delighted to be able to embrace the community spirit of his beloved club via the wishes of his uncle.
Big Hearts decided to use the funds to start a project – called ‘That’s Me’ – aimed at supporting teenagers’ mental health. The project has grown into a vital service from the charity with 20 individuals engaged on a weekly basis. The funds also went to other initiatives for young people and, more recently, to establishing Big Hearts’ own community space at Tynecastle Park – ‘The Shed’ – in the Wheatfield Stand.
The hope is further gifts from supporters can be used in a similar manner to benefit the local community. For more information and to watch the campaign video visit bighearts.org.uk/legacy.
Robert Cowan said: “My uncle Alec was a great believer in helping young people get on in life and myself and the other beneficiaries felt, in his memory and wishes, this would be appropriate. We have chosen Big Hearts as he supported the team, the charity deals with the things that were close to him, is community based, helps young people and runs other great projects in the local community.”
Alec, brought up in Craigmillar, was once in the Merchant Navy and is remembered as a generous man by his nephew. A modest, thoughtful and cultured man, Alec was a loyal visitor to the Diggers pub and a lifelong Jambo.
Big Hearts general manager Craig Wilson said: “Hearts have a long-standing tradition of caring for the community, in and out of the stadium, and there is no better way to continue spreading your love than through a gift in your will to Big Hearts, the club’s official charity. We are delighted to be launching this new initiative that allows Hearts fans to leave a legacy that will make a difference to future generations through Big Hearts. Leaving a gift in your will is a straightforward way to support our charity. We will use the funds to continue our work at Tynecastle Park and throughout Edinburgh in supporting people most in need.”
