Big Hearts Community Trust is welcoming applications to join the charity’s Board of Trustees in 2025.

There are two Trustee positions:

• One to be filled by an experienced finance professional or accountant ideally with some charity knowledge
• The other to be filled by an individual who has an interest or experience in charity governance and may be interested in being a future Chair for Big Hearts.

This is a fantastic opportunity for two individuals to join the Board of Heart of Midlothian FC’s official charity and play a part in supporting local communities through the power of the beautiful game.

Big Hearts is an award-winning charity changing lives through football since 2015. With projects including Memories, Kinship Care, Welcome Through Football and School’s Out, we are considered one of the leading football charities in Scotland and recognised for the high standard of our free support services around mental health, equality and social connections. The charity currently runs over 15 projects and employs a core team of 17 staff.

Key-information

• Big Hearts Trustees are appointed for an initial term of 3 years.
• These non-Executive roles are non-paid positions.
• All Trustees are expected to uphold and represent Big Hearts’ purpose, vision, values and mission in a personal and professional capacity.
• Being a Heart of Midlothian FC supporter is desired, but not essential.

MAIN DUTIES

• To manage and develop the Youth Health Champions Project and young volunteer program at YoMo, working with NHS Health Promotion Team and developing new relationship with partners to recruit young volunteers.
• Report to funders on outcome, case studies and impact, complete all monitoring and evaluation on Upshot.
• To engage young volunteers in the planning, delivery and evaluation of Youth Health Champions Project and other volunteering opportunities within YoMo.
• To work as part of a team and develop positive trusting relationships with young people.
• To make regular contact with young people in order to identify, assess, and meet their formal and informal educational needs, and to encourage higher self expectations, standards and skills.
• Support the personal and social development of young people through creative and interactive programmes & one to one Personal Development Plans.

Making Rights Real is a small and mighty human rights organisation in Scotland that works with communities and grassroots activists to deliver human rights for everyone. We launched in 2020 and appointed our first Director and team to lead the setting up of our organisation and initiatives with community groups. Success has been remarkable.

Four years after launch, there are challenges ahead that require thoughtful leadership as we transition from a new to an established organisation while maintaining our mightiness and vigour.

Our Values are based on core human rights values of dignity and respect, all our work is underpinned by the principles of a human rights based approach.

We are known for:

• Our commitment to the meaningful and inclusive participation of people who most need change, using a friendly and accessible approach.
• Our fearlessness and ambition for practical and impactful change, by holding power to account.
• Using our skills and expertise at the service of people who most need change.

Recruitment to the Board

We are delighted to open up recruitment for a new leadership team to govern and inspire the wider board. The new trustees will help us shape the organisation, ensure our governance supports the growing team, and direct resource investment. We are currently recruiting to the following roles:

• Chair of the Board of Trustees
• Treasurer
• Trustee

We would particularly value people with expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• Living with human rights and/or social justice concerns
• Experience of accessing justice for issues you have experienced, or leading a team (e.g. within civil society)
• Experience working with governance, budgets and relationship building with civil society and communities.
• Fundraising strategies

More than anything though, it is your enthusiasm and commitment to social justice and human rights that we need. We have set up MRR to be a kind, fun and useful organisation.

The role of Trustee / Board Member may be carried out online or in person.

www.makingrightsreal.org.uk

Role overview

To assist the Project Lead in the delivery of a programme of interesting and fun sessions/activities in consultation with young people to ensure they are at the centre of their own planning. ‘Welcome Through Football’ aims to assist in the integration and inclusion of recently arrived young refugees, asylum seekers and young people with a migrant background aged 15-25.

ORGANISATION PROFILE

Big Hearts Community Trust is the official charity of Heart of Midlothian Football Club. Based in South West Edinburgh, we aim to improve outcomes for individuals and families, using the power of football. We work across three key areas: Mental Health, Social Connections and Equal Opportunities.

We work closely with local and specialist partners to identify areas of need, understand where we can best add value and ensure our activities are designed and delivered effectively within the communities we serve. More information on our work can be found at bighearts.org.uk

Full details can be found in the job description attached below.