Big Hearts has been changing lives since 2015. At Tynecastle Park, home of Heart of Midlothian FC, we provide a welcoming space to the community: offering support, connection and opportunities to thrive.
From project participants to volunteers, Big Hearts illustrate the amazing power of football. For the people we support, Home is where Big Hearts is.
David – Kinship Carer
Following the death of their mother when they were just three years old, twins MacKenzie and MacKenna really struggled.
David and his wife became carers for their beloved grandchildren, and despite the love they have for them, life was difficult.
But after finding Big Hearts, things changed.
The twins started to be themselves again, with the help of Big Hearts Kinship Care group.
MacKenzie also attends Neuro Stars, a programme for young people with a wide range of neurodiverse conditions to help continue improving their quality of life.
“Once we met Big Hearts, the kids started getting along with other kids. They realised they weren’t the only ones,” David said. “My grandson now speaks, he’s quite fluent now, after being non-verbal for so long. My granddaughter is at the top of her year at school.”
Kirsty – That’s Me! participant
Kirsty has been a Hearts’ fan for as long as she can remember, but it wasn’t until last year, following the heartbreaking loss of her mother, that she found a connection with Big Hearts.
Living with her grandmother, Jane, Kirsty soon realised the incredible impact Big Hearts could have on her life.
The transition from losing her mother was difficult, but Kirsty found that attending That’s Me! at Big Hearts offered her a space where she could openly express her emotions and talk about her experiences.
“It’s given me a place to go where I could be myself,” Kirsty said. “A place where I can cry, I can laugh, I’m not judged. It’s given me a second home and a place where I feel like I belong. Tynecastle was always a second home.”
Big Hearts has become more than just an organisation for Kirsty – it’s a safe place where she feels understood and supported. For Kirsty, Home is where Big Hearts is.
Paul – Carer for his Dad, who attends Big Hearts Memories
Paul has been bringing his dad Davy to our Football Memories group since December.
As a family of Hearts’ fans, it was an easy decision for Davy to come to the group. They had tried other groups around the city, but none compared to Big Hearts.
“Hearts is his passion, football is his passion,” Paul said. “This is the ideal situation, it gets him out, thinking and talking to other people.”
Davy’s confidence was low and he wasn’t coming to Hearts games like he used to.
Since finding Football Memories at Tynecastle, Davy has new-found confidence and is back with a smile on his face.
Milly – Kinship Care and Events Volunteer
Milly is one of our fantastic volunteers, and has been part of our team for several years.
At just 18, Milly won Edinburgh’s ‘Inspiring Volunteer Award’ for her fantastic work on our That’s Me! programme. She now volunteers with our Kinship Care group, and supports us at various fundraising events.
Milly loves volunteering at Kinship Care.
She said: “It’s so nice to see them having a place where they can thrive and be who they want to be. It’s really nice.”
Volunteering has helped her confidence grow massively, and has supported her to study developmental psychology at Heriot Watt University.
Hassan – Big Heart Group Worker
Hassan moved to Scotland from Nigeria in 2022. At first, he felt isolated and lost.
Since joining our Welcome Through Football programme, he has made friends and built connections, which has helped him settle into life in Edinburgh.
“Big Hearts gave me a place I can come to and speak to people, try to understand, have fun, make jokes, laugh and have fun,” Hassan said.
He loves the beautiful game, and after a bad injury halted his ambition to become professional, he took a different direction.
Hassan really shone through as a participant and he wanted to use the skills and experience gained from attending Welcome Through Football to help others. After applying through our recruitment process, Hassan is now an employee of Big Hearts, working as a Group Worker to help young refugees and asylum seekers to build new connections.
David – Big Hearts Football Memories Volunteer
After retiring, David was looking for something to do with his time.
Just a month after finishing work, he found out about Football Memories at a Hearts home fixture and straight away wanted to be involved.
“I was lucky enough to meet someone from Big Hearts who suggested coming along,” he said. “Everyone thanks you for your input at Big Hearts, they’re all very friendly. Without Big Hearts, the community would be a far less generous place.”
Volunteering has done a lot for him, and over the past seven years, he’s made many close friends.
David was also part of the team who made calls to check in on supporters throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, offering support and connection in a challenging time.
This Big Hearts Day, we are raising funds to continue our work supporting all generations to live healthier, happier, fulfilled lives.
You can make a single £5 donation using your phone: text BIGHEARTS (one word) to 70085. Each text will cost the donation amount plus one standard network rate message.
