What we do

Information

We will provide vital information to help people reduce their own heart health risk.

We aim to achieve this by:

  • understanding what information people most need to help them live with a healthy heart.

  • piloting services that help people identify their personal risk of cardiovascular disease,

  • emphasising the importance of a heart healthy lifestyle through national social marketing campaigns, 

  • increasing public involvement in heart health,

  • working with Government Health Departments to encourage people to stop smoking and combat rising obesity

  • leading the European Heart Network’s lobbying for compulsory front-of-pack labelling for fats, salt and sugar

  • working with staff and sector specialists in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to develop programmes for their specific needs.

Our achievements in 2008-09

Over the course of 2008-09, we have reached out to people of all ages and backgrounds to give them the information they need to reduce their own heart risk.

Online mini-me
Yoobots were designed to inspire a hard-to-reach group - young children and teenagers. Children were encouraged to create an online mini-me, which they could then experiment with to see the effects of different diets and forms of exercise.

78% said Yoobots made them eat more healthily
Since the launch in November 2008, over one million Yoobots have been created – and 78% of those taking part said that it has made them eat more healthily.

Other highlights in brief

  • Over six million people viewed our two-minute TV advert Watch Your Own Heart Attack.

  • 205 new defibrillators have been sited in key areas across London. This is alongside our work to support 1,200 people being trained in Emergency Life Support skills.

  • We have partnered with Diabetes UK and Cancer Research UK on a Change4life initiative, designed to tackle the rise in levels of childhood obesity. The charity campaign attracted nearly 17,000 visitors to the website

  • We have run eight free two-day courses on the prevention and management of heart disease for trainers and interpreters connected with black and minority ethnic groups.

  • We’re also continuing to roll out our Heart Matters service, offering a unique package of support and information for people looking to improve their heart health. There are now over 90,000 subscribers to this service.