Welcome Through Football

Programme ID 139

Organisation Big Hearts Community Trust (Heart of Midlothian FC)

Organisation type Registered charity

Registered Charity / Company SC037311 (Scotland); company SC299474

Primary contact Email WTF@bighearts.org.uk

Organisation Website bighearts.org.uk

STARTED ON 1 Jan 2021

REGION ACTIVE Scotland

LOCAL AUTHORITY Edinburgh (Tynecastle Park)

GEOGRAPHIC REACH Local

SPORT USED Football

SOCIAL PURPOSE Employability & Skills, Inclusion & Equity

CURRENT STATUS Active

AGE RANGE 12-16, 17-25

DELIVERY SETTING Community venue, Sports club / facility

SESSION FREQUENCY Weekly

ACCESS Open sign-up

COST Free

LAST REVIEWED October 22, 2026

REVIEWED BY Xavier Wiggins (Sport Local Action)

ABOUT THIS PROGRAMME

The first programme of its kind in Scotland, Welcome Through Football supports the integration of recently arrived young refugees, asylum seekers and young people with migrant backgrounds aged 15-25. Free football sessions run twice a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4.30-6pm) alongside youth work and intercultural dialogue, using a three-phase methodology developed with the European Football Development Network. Winner of the Scottish FA's 2022 Best Community Football for All Project award.

WHO THE PROGRAMME SUPPORTS

Refugees / migrants

ACCESSIBILITY

Coaching is demonstrated visually so participants with little or no English can join in fully from the first session.

SAFEGUARDING

No safeguarding policy recorded.

EVIDENCE & LEARNING

Internal monitoring or learning

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