Dagger Is Back Posted March 25 Share Posted March 25 This Saturday is Big Hearts Day! At the home game v Kilmarnock, we celebrate Big Hearts Heroes: people who change their lives through Big Hearts, our Club’s charity. Big Hearts welcome donations from the Jambo family which will allow them to continue to support generations to live healthier, happier, fulfilled lives. This is a link to the news story giving details of our Big Heroes Big Hearts Day 2024: meet our Big Hearts Heroes! | Big Hearts This is a link to the fund raising page Big Hearts Community Trust: Big Hearts Day 2024 (enthuse.com) All donations, no matter how big or small, will help Big Hearts support even more families in our local community. Thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobNox Posted March 25 Share Posted March 25 I'm in Paul, another worthy cause I'm glad to support. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livi Posted March 26 Share Posted March 26 Big Hearts Day: What is it and why is it important This weekend will see the eighth edition of Big Hearts Day Tynecastle Park is a venue that is more than just every other Saturday when 18,000 souls decked in maroon turn up to watch Heart of Midlothian, as has been the case for most of its existence. In time, the ticket office and club shop would bring fans to McLeod Street and Gorgie Road during the week. Now there is a constant hubbub with a museum as well as a thriving restaurant regarded as one of the best in the entire city. Of course, there is also the Tynecastle Park Hotel. Since opening earlier this year it has turned this particular part of the city into a 24/7 operation. And then, tucked away in the bowels of the Wheatfield Stand, the famous ground houses some of the most crucial and fulfilling work that is undertaken and achieved in EH11. Big Hearts, the club's charity arm has offices, meeting rooms and, most importantly, The Shed which allows services and projects to be delivered which reach out to the local area and beyond, impacting lives positively and, in some cases, in a life-changing manner. It was in those offices just along from the Memorial Garden and behind the community football pitch which 100s, perhaps thousands of kids have played on down the years, Hearts Standard sat down with Big Hearts chief executive Craig Wilson and Laura Livingston, the charity's communications manager, to discuss the upcoming Big Hearts Day to be held on Saturday for the Premiership fixture against Kilmarnock at Tynecastle. This weekend will be the eighth edition of the showpiece day with the core aim of raising £30,000 to help with the variety of services the organisation runs that reach the local community and further afield. It is a Monday-to-Friday operation that has come a long way since the first support service was launched in 2015 when, aided by Ann Budge, Big Hearts took a new direction with a different focus to what had gone on before. "The club has done so much to reset itself over the 10 years and in many ways, our journey is very similar to that in terms of being the first year of Ann Budge and that is when they decided, 'What does Big Hearts mean now?" Craig explained. "It would have been Ann who was at the heart of that, going it should be a charity for families, it should be there to support."I would take it as a huge compliment that many of the other football club charities do similar or want to do more of what we do rather than it being about football first. There is definitely still a place for that like kids playing football, but actually, more of the clubs are doing even more of the changing lives stuff around mental health and the changing room project. "Even at the time I don’t think I really realised that some of the decisions the club made have helped us massively, like not taking gambling money, which I think makes our work even more genuine. It’s more rooted as part of the club." Craig and Laura rattle off the variety of projects and support services the charity offers. It gets to the point where a set of fingers are not enough to keep track. Football Memories, Kinship Care, Youth Befriending, the Changing Room, Switching Play, Welcome Through Football, Warm Welcome Lunch, School's Out. Just some of those provided. Big Hearts caters to people with different needs across a wide range of ages and backgrounds. It might be someone with dementia whose memory is stirred by the mere mention of Hearts, an old programme or picture. Or someone looking for help with their mental health and needing the correct environment to talk to about their issues. Maybe a young kid in need of a role model or a refugee whose whole life has been uprooted. The Warm Welcome Lunch has developed into a social occasion as much as it has for the meal itself, going from a one-off project to one that can be used by between 60 and 80 people each week while Maroon Memories has expanded to volunteers visiting care homes to connect with people. "We deliver 12, 13, 14 different projects," Craig said. "People can volunteer, fundraise, be a participant, they could be here for their mental health, a social connection, whatever reason. There is no need for us to put them in a box that says you are a memories participant, you’re a changing rooms participant, that’s the strong bit about football changing lives, it doesn’t really matter what you are involved in." This #BigHeartsDay, we celebrate Big Hearts Heroes: people who change their lives through @jamtarts’ charity. ❤️ Join our fundraising efforts and help us to support all generations to live healthier, happier, fulfilled lives! Laura added: "Nobody knows why you are coming here. You are walking into a football stadium. You are not walking into a doctors. People might know why you are going there whereas you are coming here for help with your mental health but no one knows that. There are so many different things you could be coming here for." Big Hearts is a safe space for so many. It can be both a sanctuary and an avenue for hope. That is detailed in a video that the charity will release later this week highlighting its heroes with "five stories of people who have changed their lives through Big Hearts, not just project participants but volunteers and community fundraisers". One of the heroes explained he wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Big Hearts. "All their stories are different, some have come for mental health support, volunteers because they had some spare time and wanted to give some time back, we’ve got a community fundraiser who got help turned things around a wee bit and he’s done six kiltwalks for us now," Laura said. "Faces who have been with us for quite a while. They have all got quite powerful stories." The importance and power of Big Hearts, rooted in Gorgie and Dalry, can't be underestimated. That's the message that has been delivered in presentations to academy and office staff over the past week. Craig and colleagues will present to the first team later this week. The buy-in from the club is important, none more so than the players whose voices can be heard louder and reach further. Laura and Craig spoke of the impact a simple tweet from Lawrence Shankland had following the League Cup semi-final earlier this season when a Big Hearts participant was the mascot. Both Craig Gordon and Andrew Webster have always been willing supporters of the charity. Craig noted the weight of players and staff, past and present speaking at services Big Hearts offer, including Christophe Berra when he was at the club and more recently Frankie McAvoy and Gordon Forrest. Cammy Devlin recently stopped to drop off football gear, something Josh Ginnelly did when he was at the club. Come Saturday, the players will run out in a unique kit which will then be auctioned off with every penny going to the charity. Having witnessed it, there is no question fans will be keen to snap them up. "The team walking out with the Big Hearts logo on the shirt is brilliant for the staff but also those who have come to projects, it gives them something else, that’s my club, I’m part of that," Craig said. As well as continuing to raise awareness of the charity and that important and powerful work they do throughout the year through support staff and valued volunteers, it is geared to raising as much money as possible to carry it all out. With the funds generated being unrestricted and not tied to one project, it allows Big Hearts to be flexible, to tweak what they do and deliver services that are needed. "It allows us to react really quickly, change really quickly to do ultimately what is right," Craig explained. "There is so much more to do given the challenges in terms of the external chaos with funding for other charities and we’ve got this unique thing around football and fan support that can actually take us forward to help even more people in different ways versus a charity up the road that has maybe just had its funding cut by 25 per cent. "Where else are they getting their money from? They’ve not got the strong bit we’ve got in terms of having 18,000 fans coming here on Saturday. There is almost more onus on us to do more therefore days like Big Hearts Day are huge for us." For 8 years, Big Hearts Day has brought together the Hearts support, raising awareness of our charity’s mission to offer free opportunities to adults and children, whilst celebrating our work in changing lives through the beautiful game. We invite all sides of the Hearts family to make a donation, no matter how big or small, towards our vital work in supporting the local community. Online donations are now welcome: Big Hearts Heroes fundraiser or you can text BIGHEARTS to 70085 to donate £5. All donations, no matter how big or small, will be gratefully received and will help our charity to support even more families within the local community. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dagger Is Back Posted March 26 Author Share Posted March 26 Bump Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diadora Van Basten Posted March 26 Share Posted March 26 Unique kit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mud and mullets Posted March 26 Share Posted March 26 Big Hearts do brilliant work in the community. My dad has Alzheimer's and went to the Football Memories group. The staff and volunteers are amazing. He can't go now but still wears his Big Hearts badge. He started going to watch Hearts as a kid in the 40s. He's now 89. It's amazing how the club has found ways to keep people connected to it for so long, even when they can't go to games that much anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davemclaren Posted March 26 Share Posted March 26 21 hours ago, Dagger Is Back said: This Saturday is Big Hearts Day! At the home game v Kilmarnock, we celebrate Big Hearts Heroes: people who change their lives through Big Hearts, our Club’s charity. Big Hearts welcome donations from the Jambo family which will allow them to continue to support generations to live healthier, happier, fulfilled lives. This is a link to the news story giving details of our Big Heroes Big Hearts Day 2024: meet our Big Hearts Heroes! | Big Hearts This is a link to the fund raising page Big Hearts Community Trust: Big Hearts Day 2024 (enthuse.com) All donations, no matter how big or small, will help Big Hearts support even more families in our local community. Thank you BTTT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Japan Jambo Posted March 26 Share Posted March 26 4 minutes ago, davemclaren said: BTTT thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davemclaren Posted March 27 Share Posted March 27 you can donate here. https://bighearts.enthuse.com/cf/bhd24?fbclid=IwAR1lEcQDmlc3gcPEfDvwsg_yKpQ-q8ew1JE-5edb7nT2Go-5LaiGZDMOx1M_aem_AWqMc8Ek_mTO78yQs2xMsP2sGY00gVCGHeRYiuqUaoeEbsC2dNEVymqNvgSLFUqOYEk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livi Posted March 27 Share Posted March 27 ROBIN’S STORY: THE ULTIMATE BIG HEARTS HERO CONTENT WARNING: this article talks about suicide. Meet one of our Big Hearts Heroes Robin, who has finally found peace with the support of our charity. The 58-year old has been through so much in his life, more than anyone should ever expect to cope with. And yet that he’s here, finding a way forward is as much a sign of the man, as anything else. Over the last six years he’s found time, space and compassion here at Tynecastle, which has enabled him to rebuild. Robin’s life started to become difficult after he experienced a critical illness. He was hospitalised for many weeks, undertaking many more in physical therapy. Unable to work, or drive, he became isolated. His partner and kids rallied, visiting him in his sick bed every day. “I didn’t want to admit to myself how bad it was,” he says. “When you are lying in a hospital bed for five weeks, and then seven weeks for therapy, if it wasn’t for my partner I would not have wanted to live.” Tragedy would strike Robin and his four children when his partner Jane then died. He was heartbroken, utterly bereft. “Losing her was just too much,” Robin explains. “I didn’t want to go on, even though I had kids. “If it hadn’t been for Big Hearts I probably wouldn’t have been here, because they helped me realise I had to carry on for the kids.” http://www.bighearts.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Robin-The-Changing-Room-400x300.jpg Robin was referred to The Changing Room, a programme delivered in partnership with Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH), the SPFL Trust and funded by Movember. The Changing Room is specifically designed for men in their middle years. That’s because we know that around 75% of all suicides in Scotland are men, and suicide is the biggest killer of men in this age group. Over 12 weeks, programme participants can take part in a range of discussions and activities, in the safest of places. Robin said nothing until a few weeks into the course, and that’s absolutely fine because there’s never any pressure on anyone to talk. A tool called the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scales (WEMWBS) is used to help participants self-assess their mental health using a scale. “We were filling out forms, and you would do a form at the end of it about where you started and where you’ve come,” Robin explains. “There’s a table. I was right down the bottom when I started. Out of ten I was maybe a ‘two’ or ‘three’, but now I am a ‘nine’. I’m not perfect but I have been working on it. “If Big Hearts are there to help me and I cannot help myself – which is what some of it came down to – you have to do it for yourself. “If I did anything, more desperate is the word, then who would be there for the kids? “It is one of the best things that someone referred me to Big Hearts. They have got the best group of folk, volunteers and everything, and I cannot thank Big Hearts enough.” The support Robin has received has made such a difference and it’s meant he had the opportunity to be a grandfather, even if that role is bittersweet. “I am more confident now, I can talk about it,” he adds. “My youngest daughter has had two kids of her own, so I would not have been able to see that. My oldest son has got kids. “My partner, all she wanted to be was a granny, but she didn’t get it.” Robin has continued to be supported by Big Hearts. He has problems with his memory and so now attends Football Memories. Football Memories, a pioneering project from Alzheimer’s Scotland and the Scottish Football Museum, was established at Big Hearts over a decade ago, bringing together fans to re-discover iconic players and games. He undertakes some volunteering at the sessions but jokes, “I only wash the cups!”. Like The Changing Room Robin has taken so much from his involvement. “I never used to talk to anyone,” he says. “I was quite happy being on my tod if I wasn’t with the kids. “Now I am managing to talk to ‘strangers’ but now they are not strangers, as I am getting to know them. It’s a social hub, it’s amazing. I’m starting to talk to folk; I’m better at socialising.” Nobody has yet worked out how to change the past, but when you have the right support you can certainly rewrite the future. Yes, the award-winning Big Hearts delivers some exceptional programmes that tackle mental health, social isolation and inequality. In doing so they can flood someone’s life with light and love. But Robin is right when he says our charity cannot do it alone. That’s why he’s a Big Hearts Hero. Jane would be so proud! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlasgoJambo Posted March 27 Share Posted March 27 Football Memories sounds like an excellent initiative. Taking the boy and my nephew to the game this Sat so will hit the esplanade pre-game with some crisp notes. The Hearts family 💜 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davemclaren Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 On 25/03/2024 at 23:37, Dagger Is Back said: This Saturday is Big Hearts Day! At the home game v Kilmarnock, we celebrate Big Hearts Heroes: people who change their lives through Big Hearts, our Club’s charity. Big Hearts welcome donations from the Jambo family which will allow them to continue to support generations to live healthier, happier, fulfilled lives. This is a link to the news story giving details of our Big Heroes Big Hearts Day 2024: meet our Big Hearts Heroes! | Big Hearts This is a link to the fund raising page Big Hearts Community Trust: Big Hearts Day 2024 (enthuse.com) All donations, no matter how big or small, will help Big Hearts support even more families in our local community. Thank you Bttt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey1874 Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 Tomorrow's strip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diadora Van Basten Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 (edited) 2 hours ago, Mikey1874 said: Tomorrow's strip Bit disappointed it’s not a unique strip but based on previous auctions Big Hearts should make a lot more from it being the third kit compared to the home kit. Edited March 29 by Diadora Van Basten Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy2 Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 Why is there going to be a sponsor on the front of that top? Some things should be sacred. This bothers me a lot more than badgegate did last week. 🤷♂️ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dagger Is Back Posted March 29 Author Share Posted March 29 The work and the difference that Big Hearts and their team of volunteers make can't be over stated. It's an important day for Big Hearts tomorrow so any support you can give them will be much appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigHearts Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 On 26/03/2024 at 16:46, mud and mullets said: Big Hearts do brilliant work in the community. My dad has Alzheimer's and went to the Football Memories group. The staff and volunteers are amazing. He can't go now but still wears his Big Hearts badge. He started going to watch Hearts as a kid in the 40s. He's now 89. It's amazing how the club has found ways to keep people connected to it for so long, even when they can't go to games that much anymore. Thank you for sharing! There’s nothing quite like the buzz of our Memories Groups and it’s a real pleasure to have your Dad and many others along. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigHearts Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 12 minutes ago, Dagger Is Back said: The work and the difference that Big Hearts and their team of volunteers make can't be over stated. It's an important day for Big Hearts tomorrow so any support you can give them will be much appreciated Thank you - we appreciate all the support. We do not take Big Hearts Day for granted. Raising funds and awareness tomorrow genuinely contributes so much to so many ♥️ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livi Posted March 30 Share Posted March 30 View this email in your browser Dear Big Hearts Supporter, Our 8th Big Hearts Day celebrations take place at Tynecastle Park today, as Heart of Midlothian FC welcomes Kilmarnock to Gorgie! This year we celebrate our Big Hearts Heroes: people who have changed their lives through Big Hearts, the Club’s charity. From project participants to volunteers, our community of Heroes illustrate the amazing power of football off the pitch. We are hoping to raise £30,000 which will allow us to continue running our projects, supporting hundreds of people each week, and we greatly appreciate any donations to our online fundraiser. We hope you will join us in and around the stadium today where our volunteers will be collecting donations and handing out some free goodies too! If you are enjoying the Easter weekend away from football, be sure to follow the day on social media! As always, thanks for your continued support. Big Hearts Team BIG HEARTS HEROES! This Big Hearts Day, we invite all sides of the Hearts family to celebrate amazing people connected to our charity. Click on the link below to watch our campaign video shining a spotlight on 8 Big Hearts Heroes. MEET OUR HEROES 2024 BIG HEARTS DAY FUNDRAISER All of the money donated to our charity this weekend will help us to continue our work, supporting all generations in our community to live healthier, happier, fulfilled lives. MAKE A DONATION SPECIAL BIG HEARTS DAY STRIP REVEALED! Hearts First Team squad will take to the pitch wearing the 150th anniversary third kit and Big Hearts have the privilege of displaying our logo on the front alongside the Clubs' crest. These one-off kits will be available on auction from kick-off on Saturday. MORE INFO ABOUT BIG HEARTS DAY Not sure what Big Hearts Day is all about? Check out our charity's website where you can find out more about our free support services for adults and children and how we celebrate the power of football in changing lives. READ MORE FOLLOW US ONLINE: Twitter Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Copyright © 2024 Big Hearts Community Trust, All rights reserved. You've signed up to this list by either registering as a Member on bighearts.org.uk or signed up for newsletter. Our mailing address is: Big Hearts Community Trust Tynecastle Stadium, Gorgie Road Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH11 2NL United Kingdom Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diadora Van Basten Posted March 30 Share Posted March 30 If we play Gordon in goals rather than Clark that would raise a grand from shirt sales. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livi Posted March 30 Share Posted March 30 Not after today's performance 🥰 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SecN Posted March 30 Share Posted March 30 4 minutes ago, livi said: Not after today's performance 🥰 This Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Loblaw Posted March 31 Share Posted March 31 Any word on how much was raised? Such a good cause. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Loblaw Posted March 31 Share Posted March 31 35 minutes ago, Bob Loblaw said: Any word on how much was raised? Such a good cause. Just seen on twitter it's just over £11k raised. A very good amount but some way off their target. Hopefully donations keep rolling in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey1874 Posted March 31 Share Posted March 31 36 minutes ago, Bob Loblaw said: Any word on how much was raised? Such a good cause. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tams bird Posted March 31 Share Posted March 31 People were very generous yesterday... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigHearts Posted March 31 Share Posted March 31 Thank you to all you amazing Jambos who joined in our Big Hearts Day celebrations yesterday! So far we've raised over £11k, and we're still counting! The online shirt auction runs until Saturday 6th April (MatchWorn Shirts) and online donations are still welcome (here). The generosity of Hearts fans has once again been amazing and we appreciate every single penny, which allows us to make a difference to families and individuals living in the local community. ❤️ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livi Posted April 1 Share Posted April 1 Big Hearts Day Pictures Big Hearts Day 2024 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigHearts Posted April 3 Share Posted April 3 We are delighted to announce the amount raised through our fundraising efforts on our 8th Big Hearts Day has reached over £21,000… and we are still counting! Read more here This is a great boost for our charity, with the funds raised enabling us to continue our strategic ambitions of empowering the people we support by helping in a way that is right for them. We cannot thank you all enough for your continued support, we really do have the best fans! ❤️ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maple Leaf Posted April 3 Share Posted April 3 1 hour ago, BigHearts said: We are delighted to announce the amount raised through our fundraising efforts on our 8th Big Hearts Day has reached over £21,000… and we are still counting! Read more here This is a great boost for our charity, with the funds raised enabling us to continue our strategic ambitions of empowering the people we support by helping in a way that is right for them. We cannot thank you all enough for your continued support, we really do have the best fans! ❤️ Great news! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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