Covid-19 response
In March 2020, Big Hearts suspended all face to face support. This decision initiated a shift in our delivery model to ensure the safety of our programme participants, volunteer and staff amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.
Since June 2021, face to face project and group activities are resuming progressively.
Coronavirus response
- Helplines: 3 new phone lines designed to address the most immediate needs of local groups. Read more.
- Older people: New ‘Memories At Home’ parcels distributed as part of Football & Edinburgh Memories.
- Kinship Care: Online peer support, family parcels, parenting & financial advice. Find out more.
- School’s Out: Food and activity parcels distributed to local school pupils. Read more.
- Mental Health: Online chats, one-to-one advice & wellbeing info via The Changing Room & That’s me! projects.
- Digital Accessibility: IT equipment to maintain online connections & complete homeschooling.
- Youth Befriending: Family parcels & online activities through our Volunteer Befrienders.
- Volunteering: Hearts fans getting involved to help others, remotely or from the Stadium. Find out more.
Community Impact
13 March – 13 December 2020
- 8,000+ vulnerable people supported across the community
- 640+ lockdown relief parcels (educational games, food and wellbeing tools)
- 1,860+ family parcels with food essentials and kids’ activities
- 1,200+ bespoke Christmas gifts for disadvantaged adults and children
- 100+ households receiving family support, financial & parenting advice
- 4,100+ ‘Memories at home’ reminiscence packs sent out to older people
- 1,100+ check-in calls to vulnerable families and isolated individuals
- 1,700+ calls to Hearts supporters aged over 65s
- 125 active volunteers involved across various projects
- 83 wellbeing video chats to support men’s mental health
- 50 families supplied with IT equipment for homeschooling & social contacts
- 400+ hours of befriending to vulnerable young people
- 138,000+ packed lunches produced for the charity Social Bite
You can find out more in our Annual Update 2020.