British Heart Foundation
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| Abbreviation | BHF |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1961 |
| Legal status | Registered charity |
| Purpose/focus | Heart disease in the UK |
| Location | Greater London House, 180 Hampstead Road, Camden Town, London |
| Region served | UK |
| Chief Executive | Peter Hollins |
| Website | British Heart Foundation |
The British Heart Foundation is a charity organisation in the United Kingdom that funds research, education, care and awareness campaigns aimed to prevent heart diseases in humans.
Contents |
[edit] Foundation
The Charity was founded in 1961 by a group of medical professionals who were concerned about the increasing death rate from cardiovascular disease.
It is a major funder and authority in cardiovascular research, education and care, and relies predominantly on voluntary donations to meet its aims. In order to increase income and maximise the impact of its work, it also works with other organisations to combat premature death and disability from cardiovascular disease.
[edit] Activities
The British Heart Foundation focuses on three areas of cardiovascular health:
- Investing in research - funding around 1,200 research projects investigating and pioneering treatment in every aspect of heart disease - from causes and safer drugs to improving surgical techniques.
- Supporting and caring for heart patients - funding BHF Nurses who visit heart patients with all types of heart conditions in their homes. Providing defibrillators and echocardiograph machines for hospitals, emergency services and first-aiders.
- Providing information to help people reduce their own risk of dying prematurely from a heart or circulatory related illness. They produce publications, videos and other materials for health professionals and the public including children. They also advise people about how to improve the health of their heart through public information campaigns, advertising and the media.
Case studies of how BHF work has helped individuals can be found in their Annual Review 2008. This includes examples of their research work and local volunteering activity.
[edit] Sponsorship
The British Heart Foundation sponsored two television series produced by Twofour, Kitchen Detective and Kid's Fit Squad. Both series encourage health eating and exercise with practical advice for families, and air on the Discovery Health channel.
The BHF, along with Cancer Research UK, is a major backer of the anti-tobacco campaign group Action on Smoking and Health.[1]
[edit] Facts and figures
- There are over 260 BHF Heart Nurses caring for patients across the UK.
- Over 1,620 Heartstart UK schemes to educate people what to do in various emergency situations (not just cardiac emergencies). More than 1.2 million people have been trained by Heartstart UK in schools and the community.
- In 2006 The British Heart Foundation had a gross income of over £100m [2].
- Every year 4,600 babies are born in the UK with a congenital heart defect.
[edit] Fundraising
The charity organises a sponsored skipping challenge through schools, in which the participating schools are entitled to retain 20% of the money raised[3]
Other annual campaigns include National Heart Month (held throughout February) and Help a Heart.
The British Heart Foundation were the first charity shops to Gift Aid their donations to get extra money by claiming the tax back from the donor.
[edit] See also
- American Heart Association
- Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
- Heart Disease Research Foundation
- National Heart Foundation of Australia
- United OneHeart Foundation
[edit] References
- ^ Who we are
- ^ BHF Annual Report and Accounts 2006; Facts and figures
- ^ "Jump Rope For Heart". http://www.bhf.org.uk/get_involved/take_part_in_our_events/schools_and_young_people/jump_rope_for_heart.aspx. Retrieved on 2008-03-25.
[edit] External links
- BHF Website
- BHF volunteering website
- British Heart Foundation, Registered Charity no. 225971 at the Charity Commission
- British Heart Foundation, Registered Charity no. SC039426 at the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator
- National Heart Month Website
- BHF Annual Review 2008
- Official BHF Blog
- Intelligent Giving profile of the British Heart Foundation
