Who we are, what we do

The Take Heart Charity raises funds exclusively for the Yorkshire Heart Centre at Leeds General Infirmary, St James’s hospital and its units within The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

 

We are a small, but professional charity, run on a completely voluntary basis. We were founded in 1989 by a small number of heart patients wishing to return something for the excellent care received.

 

From a small beginning, we have raised over six million pounds and this has been used to provide comfort and enhance the surroundings for the many thousands who visit the centre every year. We have also made significant progress in supporting staff in their work and improve their working environment.

 

Some of the major achievements of the charity are the provision of a suite of relatives rooms available free of charge when required, a roof garden providing a peaceful area for patients and relatives, and an internal garden. We provide free bedside television, telephone calls and internet for patients on the heart wards and we have recently provided changing rooms for an additional MRI scanner. Take Heart have refurbished all the wards and waiting areas and made sure that patients enjoy comfort of the highest standard. When you look around, it is highly probable that most of the bedside furniture in the heart wards was provided by Take Heart. We also provide equipment to help bring the latest technology into the centre which, in some cases, helps to reduce waiting times.

 

Admission to a Heart Ward is always an anxious time for frienda and relatives, but Take Heart works to remove as much of the stress as possible.

 

Take Heart funds are raised in many ways - through donations - events - sponsorship, and bequests, mainly through its thousands of members and supporters. Take Heart is a gentle charity - we NEVER ask people for money directly - OK, we do send out raffle tickets at Christmas and we do run an annual Sponsored Walk, but participation is completely voluntary.

 

We would love you to become a member of Take Heart. As a member, you will receive our newsletter about five times a year and if you wish to take part in anything, this is absolutely at your choice. Please note that you will never be bombarded with follow-up mail - the only time we write to you is to acknowledge any donation (and we do publish all donations in our newsletter.) You can join by going to our web site www.takeheart.net or picking up a form from any reception desk.

 

Thank you for taking the time to read about Take Heart

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Gina McGawley

Chairman Take Heart