Big Hearts Welcome new Trustees to the Board

Big Hearts, the charity of Heart of Midlothian FC, are excited to welcome James Jopling and Graham Robertson as the newest members of our board of trustees.

James and Graham bring a wealth of experience and expertise that will undoubtedly strengthen our charity and help us achieve our mission of bringing community resources together to offer adults and children free opportunities to help them live a safe and fulfilling life.

James is currently the Scotland Director at Parkinson’s UK, with nearly 30 years’ experience of working in charities in Scotland and the UK. These include the British Heart Foundation and Samaritans.

James said: “As a Hearts fan I could not fail to be impressed by the breadth of work of Big Hearts and the dramatic positive impact that has on the lives of people around where the Club are based. I believe that football clubs offer safe and secure places to change lives of people young and old. I am delighted that I’ll be able to use my experience gained in a number of charities to help support the team to achieve even more.”

Graham is currently a director with Volunteering Matters, a UK wide organisation focussed on volunteering initiatives and also began his work life as professional footballer with Raith Rovers and Millwall.

Graham said: “Football and community have played a huge part in my life and shaped who I am and what I do. I’m therefore delighted to have the opportunity to combine both of these passions by joining the board of Big Hearts as a trustee. I look forward to supporting the wider staff team and volunteers in helping Big Hearts create even more impact in their local community.”

As trustees, James and Graham will play a critical role in guiding our decisions and actions towards making a positive impact on our beneficiaries. They join a group of dedicated individuals, led by our chair Pamela Scott, who share a common passion for our cause and a commitment to excellence.

Big Hearts’ Chief Executive, Craig Wilson said: “We are grateful for James and Graham’s willingness to serve as trustees and contribute their time, talents, and efforts to Big Hearts. We believe that they will make a significant contribution to our discussions, decisions, and initiatives, and we are excited to work with them both.”

Please join us in welcoming James and Graham to our board of trustees. We look forward to working with them towards achieving our goals and making a positive impact on our community.

– June 2023