Introducing our new project: The Changing Room for Young Women
Today Big Hearts announce a joint pilot initiative with the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) and the Hibernian Community Foundation to support the wellbeing of women aged 18 to 30.
– Women between the ages of 16 and 24 are almost three times more likely to experience a common mental health issue as men of the same age.
– 1 in 2 females will stop taking part in any organised physical activity by the age of 20.
Building on the success of ‘The Changing Room’, Big Hearts and the charitable arm of city rival Hibernian are joining up to open a new weekly group designed for young women, where they can spend some time together at their football club and get involved in physical and social activities that will help support their mental health.
The Changing Room for Young Women is a pilot project funded by the Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations’ Council (EVOC) via their Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund.
Supporters are invited to join a drop-in info-session at Hearts on Wednesday 27th July.
Representing Heart of Midlothian Women, Defender Jenna Penman and striker Georgia Timms will be in attendance from 4pm.
Come along to hear more about the project anytime between 4pm and 7pm, via the community gate on Wheatfield Street, Tynecastle Park, EH11 2NZ.
Craig Wilson, General Manager at Big Hearts Community Trust said:
“Four years ago Big Hearts and the Hibernian Community Foundation led the way in encouraging football fans to chat about their mental health. The Changing Room for men has since then saved many lives. It made sense joining forces again to extend the initiative to another group in need of support: younger women. We are delighted to have received funding from EVOC to take this forward with our partners at SAMH and Easter Road. Big Hearts look forward to welcoming many women to our free sessions at Tynecastle Park starting this August.”
In 2018, Easter Road and Tynecastle Park were the first football grounds in Scotland delivering ‘The Changing Room’. This pioneering initiative led by SAMH has one goal: using the power of the beautiful game to help men open up about how they feel and save lives. The project is now delivered in 20 football clubs across the country.
Christopher Nicolson, The Changing Room Project Manager at SAMH said:
“We are delighted to be building on the success of The Changing Room with this new programme for young women at the homes of Hearts and Hibs in Edinburgh. We know the difference that The Changing Room has made for hundreds of men to date, and it’s brilliant to be able to offer it to a new audience. Harnessing the power of football to support positive lifestyle changes is something we really believe in, and we look forward to playing our part in supporting young women in Edinburgh to do that.”