Big Hearts, the official charity of Heart of Midlothian FC, raised £21,115 at the Big Hearts Gala at Tynecastle on Saturday 9 September.
The Big Hearts Gala is one of the biggest fundraising events in the charity’s calendar, and this year they have raised more than ever before, with all money going towards helping them to support people in their community.
The amount raised at this year’s Gala is double the amount of than last year.
Guests at the glittering event got a valuable insight into Big Hearts’ vital work across the community.
They learned about the That’s Me! group, which aims to make a positive impact on teenagers and young adults, aged 12 to 18, who could benefit from wellbeing support.
On top of this, guests were in the presence of legends as Paul Hartley, Darren Barr and Mark de Vries were all present in the Gorgie Suite as guest speakers.
The Big Hearts Gala is a celebration of the power of the club’s badge in changing lives in communities across south west Edinburgh.
As well as the funds raised from over 250 tickets sold, there were live and silent auctions, in which signed Hearts shirts, golf days and hotel stays were auctioned.
Craig Wilson, CEO at Big Hearts, said: “We are over the moon to have raised £21,115 at the Big Hearts Gala this year.
“It is one of our biggest fundraising efforts and I’m grateful to everyone who bought tickets and took part in our auctions.
“The money raised will go a long way in our mission to help improve the lives of people in our community.”
Fans at the Gala were delighted to meet three Hearts legends. Brian Chapman shared shared his excitement after hearing some of their stories.
“I am too young to have seen Mark de Vries play, but I was lucky enough to see Paul Hartley play. It was a really good moment to get a picture with him and actually see him in-front of my own eyes.
“I took part in the Hampden to Tynecastle charity walk and, along with three friends, raised £2500 for Big Hearts. I am here tonight to continue to show support after that.
“The charity does a lot of good work, and as we’ve heard tonight, poverty in Gorgie is among the highest in Edinburgh.”
Mark de Vries is fondly remembered by Hearts fans for his four goals on his debut against Hibs. He was glad to be back in Gorgie.
“It has been great to be back in Edinburgh and back at Tynecastle” he said.
“I loved my time here, so it has been an honour to come back as a guest of Big Hearts.
“I have been made to feel so welcome and it has been amazing to learn about the work of Big Hearts.”
Big Hearts is the only non-profit organisation based at the home of Heart of Midlothian FC.
The charity delivers free activities for adults and children to improve outcomes around mental health, social isolation and promote equal opportunities.
It costs Big Hearts over £600,000 each year to build and deliver programmes and services to the communities living in the surroundings of Tynecastle Park, one of the most disadvantaged wards of Edinburgh.
For the opening weekend of the Festival, Princes St Gardens will host a range of free open-air concerts including performances from over 300 young Scottish musicians, GRIT Orchestra and three national youth companies
Charlotte Square Gardens open to the public for the final weekend of the Festival, in a free-access outdoor musical soundscape of recorded performances from the 2023 programme
In-conversation, low-cost, events take over the Scottish Parliament in a first-time partnership with the Festival of Politics
The Festival’s HQ on the Royal Mile, The Hub, is open to the public in the daytime, for a programme of free afternoon sessions to deepen engagement with artists and creatives
A range of 39 free events have today been added to Edinburgh International Festival’s 2023 programme, the first from incoming Festival Director Nicola Benedetti.
The free events, and two low-cost in-conversation events, capture the spirit of community and the joy of music making, and join over 300 performances from the world’s leading performers of music, theatre and dance, that take over Edinburgh’s venues and concert halls from 4-27 August 2023.
An Opening Fanfare Weekend taking place from 5-6 August, features brass bands and pipers, rappers and choirs, as over 300 young musicians from Scotland’s vibrant homegrown music scene assemble for an energetic weekend of music-making in Princes St Gardens.
On Saturday 5 August, between 12pm – 5pm Scottish youth and amateur ensembles take over three pop-up stages in the gardens, culminating in a final moment of joint music making at the end of the day. Ensembles featured include Intercultural Youth Scotland, Drake Music Scotland, Tinderbox Collective, Musicians in Exile and the Edinburgh Ukrainian Choir ‘Oberih’. All performances onSaturday are free and entry is non-ticketed.
Sunday 6 August sees an epic set from the thrilling GRIT Orchestra as well as performances from three National Youth Companies, TheNational Youth Pipe Band of Scotland, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and National Youth Brass Bands of Scotland.
GRIT Orchestra willshowcase their unique blend of Celtic and world music traditions and perform tracks from their seminal albums GRIT and Bothy Culture by the late Martyn Bennett and arranged by Greg Lawson.
In a truly memorable manifestation of the first week’s theme:community over chaos, the group will also perform a world premiere work composed for the 2023 Festival, accompanied by over 100 young people. Performances on Sunday take place between 2pm and 4:30pm are free, with limited tickets available for the seated arena in front of the Ross Bandstand. Full schedule below.
Over at The Hub, the International Festival’s home on the Royal Mile, an inaugural programme of afternoon sessions includes free artist conversations, performances and listening experiences.
Designed to deepen the level of experience for audiences and give an insight into aspects of performers’ artistic practice, the programme features artists from across the 2023 Festival. The Hub programme is supported by long-standing Festival Partner, The University of Edinburgh. BSL interpretation and live captions will be available across the whole programme of The Hub afternoon talks.
From the 2023 theatre programme, writer Nat McCleary and director Johnny McKnight of National Theatre of Scotland take us behind the scenes of new Scottish play Thrown; Life is a Dream creatives Nick Omerod and Declan Donnellan of Cheek by Jowl discuss international collaboration in theatre, with Spanish interpreter Juan Ollero, an in-conversation with As Far As Impossible’s director, and director of Festival d’Avignon, Tiago Rodrigues, and an afternoon with Geoff Sobelle, award-winning theatre artist, clown and creator of immersive workFOOD.
From the 2023 music programme, a deep dive into the music and story of Richard Wagner’s opera Tannhaüser, a performance and demonstration of Rachmaninoff’s stylings by British-Ukrainian pianist Alexei Grynyuk; and a discussion on musical innovation from experimental composer, DJ and producer Matthew Herbert around his world premiere album The Horse and its fascinating journey uncovering the musical potential within a horse skeleton.
The International Festival also hosts two special events in another new location, the Scottish Parliament, in a first-time partnership with the Festival of Politics.
The Debating Chamber will see two In Conversation events featuring two major creatives from the International Festival programme: Gustavo Dudamel, one of the world’s foremost music conductors, will be joined by Clare Adamson MSP, Convener, Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee, on Friday 25 August, and the world’s premier solo percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie OBE will be in conversation with the Deputy Presiding Officer Liam McArthur MSP on Wednesday 9 August.
Both artists will discuss their storied careers as well as the key question posed by the International Festival this year: where do we go from here? A panel session exploring the future of the arts and culture will also be part of this series, on Thursday 10 August.
Other talks presented in partnership with the Festival of Politics will take place in The Hub and explore principles behind the International Festival’s 2023 programme:
Community over chaosis discussed by Nigel Osbourne OBE, composer, teacher and aid-worker pioneering music therapy techniques with war traumatised children, in conversation with Travis Alabanza, award-winning writer and performer known for their work surrounding gender, trans identity and race. The talk will be chaired by TV and radio presenter Gemma Cairney;
Hope in the face of adversity and the power of creativity in adverse circumstances isexplored by former Makar, or National Poet of Scotland, Jackie Kay and British-Iranian artist Fari Bradley, chaired by Jenny Niven.
A perspective that’s not one’s own is unpacked by author Dina Nayeri and cultural development specialist Fairouz Nishanova, chaired by author and journalist Chitra Ramaswamy. Nayeri’s latest book, ‘Who Gets Believed?’ is a reckoning with believability in Western culture, beginning with the question ‘why are honest asylum seekers dismissed as liars?’. Nishanova is the director of the Aga Khan Music Programme, aimed at revitalising musical heritage around the world in societies where Muslims have a significant presence.
On the final weekend of the Festival, the gardens at Charlotte Square will be opened to the public as a musical oasis, where a soundscape of recorded music from the 2023 International Festival classical music concerts will play throughout the garden. The soundscape will also feature Beethoven’s 9th alongside archival recordings.
From our stages to your home, audiences can also enjoy recorded music from across the 2023 programme on BBC Radio 3. A full schedule of media broadcasts can be found at eif.co.uk.
A new series of audio introductions hosted by Nicola Benedetti and BBC Radio’s Tom Service will share further insight into music and theatre from the 2023 programme through conversations with creatives involved.
For full information on Edinburgh International Festival’s 2023 programme of free and ticketed events, visit www.eif.co.uk.
Nicola Benedetti, Festival Director,Edinburgh International Festival said: “Our free programming sees iconic spaces around Edinburgh come alive with some incredible artists.
“I’m particularly proud that there are opportunities like this for our audiences and community members to get closer to the artists across our 2023 Festival programme. It’s our audiences who play a key part in creating the magic of what takes place on our stages and upholding the wonderful standards of this world-class event.
“A festival is a place of joy and discovery, and I hope everyone will get involved and come together to experience some of this magic this August.”
Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s Director of Events, said: “EventScotland is delighted to be supporting Edinburgh International Festival’s free-to-attend Opening Fanfare Weekend. The family-friendly event promises audiences an up-close and personal connection to Scotland’s vibrant music scene, all against the iconic backdrop of Edinburgh Castle in Princes St Gardens.
“Having events that appeal to both residents and visitors alike enables us to connect and share memorable experiences while showcasing Scotland as the perfect stage for events.
“We wish Nicola Benedetti, in her first year as Festival Director, and all of the extended team, performers and audiences a very special Festival filled with discovery and delight.”
Big Hearts Community Trust, the official charity of Heart of Midlothian FC, is taking part in Festive Friends
All 42 community trusts and SPFL clubs involved for the first time, as well as Cowdenbeath (43 in total)
Over 4,000 people across Scotland will be supported by Festive Friends this year
A record £133,000 has been committed to this year’s campaign
This year’s campaign will see the continuation of last year’s doorstep visits to people who are at risk of social isolation
While there will also be physical events across the country, including Christmas lunches and dinners at stadiums
Heart of Midlothian FC are bringing Christmas cheer to those that need it most this year by taking part in the biggest-ever Festive Friends programme during the holiday season.
Festive Friends is a brilliant opportunity for clubs to give back to their local communities.
The SPFL Trust programme is now in its seventh year and, for the first time, all 42 SPFL clubs are taking part in the campaign, including Heart of Midlothian FC through their official charity Big Hearts.
Cowdenbeath will also deliver Festive Friends after being granted a year’s grace following their relegation to the Lowland League.
The campaign has the largest-ever fund this year, a total of £133,000, which means the SPFL Trust will be able to support an extra 1,000 people via clubs and community trusts.
As such, the programme is expected to support over 4,000 people this year across Scotland.
It’s been a difficult year so far for everyone with the cost of living crisis, but, of course, winter is always a particularly tough time for the elderly, who are at higher risk of social isolation.
Festive Friends brings Christmas cheer and companionship to elderly people who are socially isolated and at risk of being alone during the festive season.
Almost 9,000 people have enjoyed Festive Friends in the last six years and that number is expected to reach nearly 15,000.
Hampers usually contain food, snacks, essential toiletries, gifts, games and more. Some clubs even send video messages from managers and players; others have players make personal deliveries.
This year, given the current crisis facing the country, the SPFL Trust has also organised for Age Scotland Friendship Line flyers to be distributed in each hamper featuring helpful information.
This year Big Hearts Community Trust staff and volunteers welcomed over 100 older people to Tynecastle, where they get to enjoy a hot Christmas lunch and receive a festive food hamper to take home.
SPFL Trust CEO Nicky Reid said:“Festive Friends is one of our biggest events at the SPFL Trust and for our colleagues at clubs and community trusts.
“It’s all about coming together to have a real impact in the lives of elderly and isolated people over the festive period – reaching more people than ever this year.
“It’s the Christmas spirit in action as we see the power of football in spades – with clubs spreading cheer in their communities.
“Scottish football is trusted to support, and our recent research shows that almost 83% of people live within ten miles of a SPFL ground – because of this clubs and their associated community trusts are well positioned to effect this type of change in their communities.
“This year 43 SPFL clubs are involved making it our biggest programme yet, supported by a record-breaking fund of £133,000. We look forward to supporting more elderly people than ever before, after all kindness never mattered more.”
Big Hearts Operations Manager Innes Shirreff said:“Big Hearts are delighted to have the support of the SPFL Trust’s Festive Friends programme again this year, which will help us to provide two social gatherings for older people at Tynecastle Park.
“Across the 12th and 13th December, we welcomed over 100 individuals and provided a three-course lunch, as well as gifts and entertainment. These lunches form a key part of our winter engagement for older people and provide an enjoyable afternoon out, in a warm and welcoming environment.
“We are proud to be part of the wider community of football clubs, trusts and foundations across Scotland working to ensure vital support is provided to those who need it during the festive season.”
Big Hearts’ Festive Friends participant Henry Craig, who is 70 years old said: “Today has been outstanding, the food was excellent, the atmosphere, the friendliness of the staff, the former Hearts players in the room – everyone had a great time. Well done to the people at Big Hearts for organising.
“I’m a Hearts’ supporter and a season ticket holder and I’ve been involved with the charity for almost a year. I love the companionship I get when I come to the stadium. The opportunity to get together for a festive meal was amazing, thank you.”
