Football Memories has teamed up with Big Hearts
Football Memories is teaming up with Big Hearts Community Trust to deliver a series of sessions for people suffering from dementia at Hearts of Midlothian Football Club (Hearts).
The Football Memories project is helping men with dementia by reviving memories of players, matches, goals and incidents from football matches in their younger days. A joint project between Alzheimer Scotland and the Scottish Football Museum at Hampden Park, it has attracted almost unprecedented levels of interest and involvement from fans and players alike. The website has seen contributions of stories from footballers, rock stars, film actors, journalists, politicians and ordinary supporters all across the country.
The level of detail in the recall of the men attending can be quite spectacular, and the project aims to record many of the stories which emerge for future use and to avoid part of the nation’s football heritage being lost forever. Images kept in scrapbooks and albums are shared and downloaded for use in sessions. Several former players are involved in the groups and their stories add a new dimension to the sessions.
Big Hearts has now teamed up to deliver these sessions here at Hearts from the 26thof February 2-4pm.
Ben Craigie-Sharland development manager for the trust stated ‘This is a great opportunity for us to get involved and help this group of people, in a way not thought of possible. Football Memories has got a great track record and we firmly believe this project will work well at Tynecastle. Not only does it help people with dementia but also gives an opportunity for their carers to have some respite.’
Alistair Fergusson the project manager for football memories said ‘doing these sessions at Hearts FC opens up new opportunities for us to deliver in a big footballing environment in Edinburgh and there is no better place than in the vicinity of one of the oldest football clubs in Scotland’
The project will also be run in conjunction with Still Game an SPL trust funded programme of workshops for those 60+ and over to help those that feel isolated. For information please contact Ben at Big Hearts on 01312007204
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Enquiries: Benedict Craigie-Sharland (Big Hearts) 01312007204
Alistair Fergusson (Football memories) 01414101060
NOTES TO EDITORS
Background
Since 1874, Heart of Midlothian FC has built a strong reputation as a family friendly club with a proud record of community involvement. We have a desire for Hearts to continue to build on its reputation as a positive social force in the community by working in partnership with many different local groups, charities, corporate partners and initiatives. This strategy is part of our commitment to build on our traditions as a family friendly club.
The Big Hearts Community Trust is the club’s main vehicle for investing in community development projects. It is an independent charity and its role is to support the work of local people towards building communities where people of all ages can live, work and participate in sport safely, where they welcome each other’s differences and help each other to grow and succeed. This requires the club, through the Trust, to actively engage with local community leaders and forums and to offer sporting opportunities and a wide range of inspiring health and educational activities for the benefit of local people.
Mission Statement
To create opportunities for people with big hearts to build something better together
Investing in our local communities and beyond is also about making Heart of Midlothian FC a better company, a company that acts responsibly, a company that contributes towards improving the quality of people’s lives. In particular, Hearts is committed to playing its role in working towards the following national outcomes:
- We live in a Scotland that is the most attractive place for doing business in Europe
- We have strong, resilient and supportive communitieswhere people take responsibilities for their actionsand how they affect others.
- Our children have the best start in life and are ready to succeed
- We have improved the life chances for children, young people and families at risk
- Our young people are successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens
- We live longer, healthier lives
- We realise our full economic potential with more and better employment opportunities for our young people
- We live our lives safe from crime, disorder and danger
Big Hearts is built on three main pillars of activity
Mission Statement
To create a legacy in which people with Big Hearts build better communities together.
Goals
Communities - Through our engagement programmes, communities in the Heart of Midlothian catchment area are more confident, healthier and safer.
Grassroots - Through developing Grassroots activities more people have the opportunity to enjoy football and sporting activities each year.
Legacy - Through the charity’s innovation, fundraising and publicity the club is recognised as an integral part of the community
Since 2006 the charityhas forged valuable and fruitful relationships with six local authorities and numerous community partners, resulting in a high levels of activity in areas such as health, education, social responsibility, grassroots sport and club development. In close conjunction with Heart of Midlothian Football Club, the Trust continues to make a valuable social and community contribution to the south-east of Scotland and beyond.
Big Hearts Community Trust
Heart of Midlothian Football Club
Tynecastle Stadium
Gorgie Road
Edinburgh
EH11 2NL
Scottish Charity No. 037311