BIG HEARTS WINS AWARD FOR BEST CSR PROJECT IN EUROPEAN FOOTBALL

This November, our charity received the 2021 ‘More Than Football’ Award during the European Football for Development Network (EFDN) Conference in The Netherlands.

Voted winner of the prestigious trophy by 120+ football clubs & charities across Europe, our Big Hearts Supporters Movement has been recognised at the most innovative and impactful Community and Social Responsibility (CSR) programme in European Football.

The Big Hearts’ volunteering programme was shortlisted alongside outstanding projects from FC Twente (Netherlands), the Barça Foundation (Spain), Juventus FC (Italy), Liverpool FC Foundation (England) and PFC Ludogorets (Bulgaria).

Big Hearts’ General Manager Craig Wilson comments:
“It’s an honour to collect the More Than Football Award on behalf of the thousands of Big Hearts Supporters who have used their time and expertise over the years – and most recently during the pandemic – to help vulnerable groups across the community.”

“The kindness and determination shown by Hearts fans who volunteer with the Club’s official charity is a perfect illustration of the social power of football and how the beautiful game can create positive outcomes outside the stadium. We are thrilled this has been recognised by our peers at a European level.”

Since 2016, Big Hearts’ volunteering programme keeps breaking new grounds in the football and charity sectors. The movement enables any football fans to get involved with our charity in a manner that suits them, using their time and skills to make a positive difference.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the outstanding efforts from Hearts fans enabled Big Hearts to support three times more people than in the previous year, with a 30% increase in volunteers and 4 new community initiatives launched.

The European Football for Development Network (EFDN) aims to gather professional football organisations together to share best practice and promote the power of football as a tool for social development.