Big Hearts Community Trust

What Big Hearts Community Trust does

Big Hearts Community Trust is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO, registered charity SC037311) and the official charity of Heart of Midlothian Football Club, headquartered at Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh. Founded in 2006 and reoriented in 2015 toward its current charitable mission, the organisation delivers 14 free community programmes addressing mental health, social isolation, inequality, food poverty, dementia support, youth crime prevention, kinship care, and refugee/migrant integration across South West Edinburgh and, via partner-club replication, across Scotland and parts of Europe. Its core service portfolio is structured around defined beneficiary segments: older people (Memories, Memories on the Go, Warm Welcome Lunch), neurodivergent children and families (Neuro Stars, Autism and Neurodiversity Football), at-risk youth aged 13-18 (Friday Night Lights, That's Me!, Switching Play, Young People Counselling), kinship families (Kinship Care Programme), men at risk of mental health issues (The Changing Room), refugees and migrants (Welcome Through Football), and disadvantaged children aged 5-12 (School's Out!, T.E.A.M Project). Delivery is led by approximately 24 staff including qualified youth workers, a trauma-informed counsellor, project leads (notably Hearts legends), and a senior team of Chief Executive, Head of Income, Head of Marketing, Head of Delivery, Communications Manager, Fundraising Partnerships Manager, and Finance and Administration Manager, supported by a Board of Trustees chaired by David Gray (from early 2026).

The underlying 'technology' is non-proprietary in the conventional sense: programmes are built on the symbolic and physical assets of Heart of Midlothian FC and Tynecastle Park (1874 Fans Bar, The Shed, Gorgie Suite), with operational integration provided by statutory and third-sector partners including Police Scotland, SAMH, the Scottish Football Association, Sportscotland, City of Edinburgh Council, EFDN member clubs, Age Scotland, and Team United. No proprietary digital platform, AI/ML system, or app is in operation; engagement is driven through Facebook, Instagram, X, email newsletter, the Enthuse and JustGiving donation platforms, text-to-donate (70085), and in-person matchday and community events.

The revenue model is a non-profit charity model with diversified but grant- and donation-led income. All 14 core programmes are free at point of access; income is generated through individual donations (text, Enthuse, JustGiving, in-memory and legacy giving), institutional grants (government, lottery, foundations, corporate foundations), corporate sponsorship tiers (Gold Sponsor PPE Industrial Supplies Ltd; Silver Sponsors Jambos Kickback and DPS Group for the Big Hearts Gala), and event revenue (Big Hearts Gala at £100/individual ticket or £900/table of 10, Kiltwalk participation, fundraising challenges such as abseils and marathons). FY2024/25 income reached a record £885,166 against expenditure of £884,467, reported at the December 2025 AGM, with the Gala, annual Big Hearts Day matchday, and club-affiliated supporter activation functioning as the primary unrestricted-income engines.

Name

Big Hearts Community Trust

Legal name

Big Hearts Community Trust

Website

https://bighearts.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Big Hearts Community Trust is the official charity of Heart of Midlothian FC, delivering 14 free community programmes at Tynecastle Park in Edinburgh across mental health, dementia, kinship care, youth diversion, refugee integration, and food poverty, funded by donations, grants, and corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Charity Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD)

Keywords

• Community charity services
• Mental health programmes
• Youth support services
• Football community outreach
• Social inclusion programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Edinburgh

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Grants: Individual donations via text (text BIGHEARTS to 70085 for £5), online platforms (Enthuse, JustGiving), and grant funding from government bodies, foundations, and charitable organisations. Income reached record levels at £885,166 in 2024/25.
2. Event Revenue: Ticket sales for signature events including Big Hearts Gala (individual tickets £100, tables of 10 for £900) and fundraising challenge registrations.
3. Corporate Sponsorship: Partnerships with businesses including Charity of the Year, programme/event sponsorship, and corporate volunteering. Gold Sponsor: PPE Industrial Supplies Ltd; Silver Sponsors: Jambos Kickback and DPS Group.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Big Hearts Community Trust delivers free community support programmes focused on mental health, social connection, and equal opportunities for vulnerable groups in South West Edinburgh. Operating as the official charity of Heart of Midlothian FC from Tynecastle Park, it runs programmes for older people, young people, kinship care families, neurodivergent children, refugees, and adults facing hardship, alongside fundraising events and corporate partnership opportunities.

Product overview

Big Hearts Community Trust operates as a portfolio of community support programmes centred around Heart of Midlothian FC and Tynecastle Park. The organisation offers 14 core community programmes addressing mental health, social connections, and equal opportunities across Edinburgh. These include youth-focused services (Friday Night Lights, Neuro Stars, School's Out!, T.E.A.M Project, That's Me!, Switching Play, Welcome Through Football, Young People Counselling), family support (Kinship Care Programme), older people's services (Memories, Warm Welcome Lunch, The Changing Room), and health initiatives (Wellbeing Together South West partnership, Autism and Neurodiversity Football). The portfolio also includes fundraising and engagement activities (Big Hearts Gala, Kiltwalk, Challenges, Corporate Partnerships, Legacy Giving, In Memory Donations). All programmes are free to access and designed to reach vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals in South West Edinburgh.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Autism and Neurodiversity Football Football sessions providing a safe, supportive and inclusive environment where neurodiverse young people can enjoy football, make friends, and build confidence. Delivered in partnership with Team United.
• Friday Night Lights Weekly support group for teenagers at risk of criminal activity, providing a safe space with positive role models. Delivered in partnership with Police Scotland, Edinburgh Leisure and Community Sports Hubs.
• Kinship Care Programme Family-focused programme offering comprehensive support including Kinnections (fortnightly sessions for children), Kinship Families groups, Coffee Mornings for carers, and Men Carers Group. Addresses emotional, practical and financial challenges faced by kinship families.
• Memories Reminiscence programme helping older people recall fond memories using archived images and themed memorabilia. Includes Football Memories (since 2013) and Edinburgh Memories (since 2018). Sessions for people living with dementia, stroke survivors, and those at risk of loneliness.
• Neuro Stars

Named customers6 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered gold sponsor, silver sponsor, core and supporting.

• PPE Industrial Supplies Ltdgold sponsorGTM or Marketing Partner · 21 April 2026Gold Sponsor of the 2026 Big Hearts Gala. Long-term supporter of Big Hearts who believes in the work the charity delivers across the community and the power of connection.
• Jambos Kickbacksilver sponsorGTM or Marketing Partner · 21 April 2026Silver Sponsor of the 2026 Big Hearts Gala.
• DPS Groupsilver sponsorGTM or Marketing Partner · 21 April 2026Silver Sponsor of the 2026 Big Hearts Gala.
• Team UnitedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership for autism and neurodiversity football sessions providing safe, supportive and inclusive environment for neurodiverse young people to enjoy football, make friends, and build confidence.
• Police ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024Partnership with Police Scotland for Friday Night Lights project supporting young people at risk of criminal activity. Police officers join sessions to take part, not to lecture. Police Scotland reported reduction in youth-related call-outs locally and improved behaviour in schools.
• Edinburgh Leisure and Community Sports HubssupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024Partnership for Friday Night Lights project offering free provision for young people through football-based activities with additional support.
• SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Wellbeing Together South West initiative providing mental health services to young people. Also partnered for The Changing Room programme which SAMH initiated with support from The Movember Foundation and SPFL Trust.
• With KidssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Wellbeing Together South West partnership providing timely mental health services to young people aged 5 to 25.
• The Space and Broomhouse HubsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Wellbeing Together South West partnership providing mental health services to young people in South West Edinburgh.
• European Football Development Network (EFDN)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerBig Hearts shares best practice with 8 other network members running Welcome Through Football in their respective countries: AEK Athens, Everton in the Community, Newcastle United Foundation, Fundacao Benfica, Werder Bremen, FC Emmen, Sheffield United Community Foundation, and KAA Gent.
• Thomas Bradley LegalsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides free will service to anyone 50+ or current Big Hearts supporter or volunteer, supporting legacy giving to the charity.
• Tynecastle High SchoolsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for School's Out holiday programme delivered in partnership with teachers.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Manchester City Foundation: Official charity of Manchester City delivering health, education and inclusion programmes. Broader incumbent with much larger resource base but overlapping mental health, youth and inclusion programme categories.
• Rangers Charity Foundation: Official charity of Rangers FC delivering health, education and employability programmes. Operates across the same Scottish urban population but at broader scale, with overlapping mental health and youth inclusion offerings.
• Celtic FC Foundation: Larger Scottish football charity with comparable remit across health, education, poverty and community inclusion, but operating at considerably larger scale across the West of Scotland. Competes for the same Scottish corporate and statutory grant pool as Big Hearts.

Others

• Alzheimer Scotland: National dementia charity and a current funder of Big Hearts' Memories programme. Adjacent specialist nonprofit with overlapping beneficiary base rather than a direct competitor.

Direct peers

• Foundation of Light: Official charity of Sunderland AFC, delivering health, education and sport programmes in the North East. Closely comparable community football charity model serving a similarly economically disadvantaged population base.
• Everton in the Community: Official charity of Everton FC, delivers comparable football-anchored community programmes including dementia support, mental health, and social inclusion. Direct peer as founding EFDN partner running Welcome Through Football alongside Big Hearts.
• Sheffield United Community Foundation: Official charity of Sheffield United, delivers education, health and inclusion programmes. Direct peer in EFDN's Welcome Through Football network with very similar programme portfolio to Big Hearts.
• Aberdeen FC Community Trust: Official charity of Aberdeen FC delivering health, education and football-based community programmes across North East Scotland. Comparable Scottish football charity peer operating from Pittodrie stadium as hub.
• Newcastle United Foundation: Official charity of Newcastle United, delivers health, education and youth programmes across the North East. Direct peer running Welcome Through Football and comparable dementia/mental health offerings.
• Birmingham City Foundation: Official charity of Birmingham City FC delivering sport-for-development programmes in a similarly diverse urban setting. Direct peer in scale and programme mix (youth engagement, mental health, food poverty).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bighearts
• Facebookfacebook.com/bigheartscommunity
• Instagraminstagram.com/bigheartscommunity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/big-hearts-community-trust

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Big Hearts Community Trust