The British Heart Foundation in Scotland
BHF activities in Scotland are overseen by our team in Edinburgh, which has a new Director at the helm, and works closely with Fundraising Volunteer Managers on the ground in their local communities.
2005/06 saw a real boost to our ability to connect more closely with the thousands of Scots affected by heart disease, and to represent them more effectively, with two new roles added to the team.
In the early part of the year our new Policy and Public Affairs Manager headed the drive to communicate BHF messages on the harmful effects of second-hand or environmental tobacco smoke on the general public, and encourage more MSPs to support the proposed anti-smoking legislation. This was a landmark year and it gave us all great pleasure to celebrate the introduction of the new law, banning smoking in enclosed public places.
Go to 'Victory for the nation's hearts' page
Our new Corporate Executive has brought an innovative approach to fundraising partnerships. His work with the Clydesdale Bank, for example, has brought real benefits to both partners, and has given us a more effective framework for building partnerships in the future which will significantly affect our fundraising capabilities in Scotland.
Go to 'Partnerships' page
The opening of the new Highland Heartbeat Centre, a cardiac rehabilitation and research centre in Inverness, has also allowed the BHF to provide better resources for heart failure patients. We will continue our commitment in this area with the BHF Heart Nurse Appeal which was launched in December 2005.
Go to 'BHF Heart Nurses' page
We also held a Heartstart UK training session in the Scottish Parliament for a cross-party group of MSPs in May, getting MSPs to learn emergency life-saving themselves, and briefing them on the BHF view that every child should be taught these vital skills. Over 280 schools are affiliated to Heartstart UK in Scotland, and we are lobbying the Scottish Executive to ensure the rest of them sign up.
Go to 'Heartstart UK in Scotland' page