Working with a charity is important in building relationships with the communities in which we operate. This not only involves financial donations but also the giving of our time and expertise.  Every two years, following consultation with staff and then a staff vote, we sponsor a single national charity so as to focus rather than dilute our efforts.  We are delighted to announce that our Charity of the Year 2009-2011 is British Heart Foundation.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is the nation's heart charity and their work in the year's ahead will save thousands of lives.  Heart and circulatory disease is the biggest single cause of premature death in the UK and two and a half million people are currently living with the disease. 

The Foundation's work to prevent people's lives being devastated by heart and circulatory disease takes a wide range of forms.

By investing in pioneering research into the cause of heart disease, they fund around 1200 research projects investigating every aspect of heart disease, from causes and safer drugs to improving surgical techniques.  They also fund BHF Nurses who provide practical and emotional care and support to patients and their families in their own homes.

Through campaigning and lobbying they strive to influence Government policies and raise awareness and work to help inform people about how to improve the health of their heart by providing vital information, with the ultimate goal of living in a world where people do not die prematurely of heart disease.

If you would like to find out more about the British Heart Foundation or make a donation, please click here to visit their website.