What we do

Making it happen

We are all about people. We work hard every day to support the people who need us most and, in turn, we rely on the support of the general public.

We ask the people we work with what they want and need, and how they like to work with us. Then we do our very best to ensure those needs are met.

Our free membership service Heart Matters is a good example of how we work to provide what people tell us they need.

None of our work would be possible without the generosity of thousands of supporters across the UK.

This comes in many forms including donations, sponsored events, corporate partnerships, and shopping at our network of BHF Shops

For every £1 that we spend on our life-saving activities, 88p comes from public donations. And there's a way for you to get involved that will suit you, including;

  • donating - have a look at the many different ways you can donate and how tax effective it can be.
  • events - we run hundreds of fun fundraising events across the UK every year, and they're a great way to get fit.
  • shopping - either online or at our national network of shops.
  • corporate partnerships - there are a whole range of ways to get involved at work.
  • pledging a legacy - almost half of our income comes from people remembering us in their wills.     

Some achievements 2008/9

Red food, red outfits, and a red raffle
Rachel Wylde was one of thousands of people who went Red for Heart as part of National Heart Month in February 2009.

When her daughter Molly was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect as a newborn baby, Rachel relied on the BHF for information and support. As her way of thanking us, Rachel and her family hosted a red party, complete with red foods, red outfits and a red raffle.

Our alliance with Home Retail Group has raised over £1.5 million
Meanwhile, Red for Heart acted as a focal point for our corporate partnerships. Our alliance with Home Retail Group has raised over £1.5million, which is helping to fund 585 defibrillators in areas of need and four trained BHF Community Resuscitation Development Officer (CRDO) posts for two years.

Lloyds Banking Group helped fund 15 BHF Heart Nurses
A similar partnership with Lloyds Banking Group is helping to fund 15 BHF Heart Nurses, supporting a considerable number of patients across the UK.

Other highlights in brief:

  • Our network of BHF Shops has played a vital role in spreading the word and raising funds - a £15.8 million profit for the BHF's work. We've just opened our 64th specialist Furniture & Electrical Store alongside 533 general stores, with plans for further expansion in 2009 and beyond.

  • Legacy gifts have accounted for almost half of our income. Pamela Mills is one of the many people who continue to pledge generously in their Wills. “I was determined that I would replay in a small way the life-saving information you offer.”

  • We now have over 250 volunteer-run fundraising branches across the UK. The Aberdeen Branch of BHF Scotland recently held a golf tournament, raising £14,205 to help provide two BHF Heart Nurses to support people throughout the Grampian area.

  • Over 3,500 fundraising volunteers have helped us over the course of 2008-09. Ann Hartley gave up her evenings and weekends to collect in pubs for the Manchester Children’s Heart Appeal – raising more than £5,000 single-handedly.

  • Ben Few Brown and his friends raised £15,320 by completing the 2008 BHF London to Brighton Bike Ride, contributing to a grand total of £4.2 million for the event.

  • There are many amazing stories of dedication and determination, sometimes arising from tragic personal circumstances. Martin and Sarah Blades have resolved to raise £10,000 in memory of their daughter Freya, who died at just seven weeks old, having been born with two holes in her heart.

    Martin has taken part in BHF hikes in places from Hertfordshire to Hadrian's Wall – covering over a hundred miles in the process.