British Heart Foundation

We are deeply saddened by the death of Dame Esther Rantzen. Esther was not only one of Britain's most loved broadcasters and campaigners, she was also a cherished supporter and ambassador for British Heart Foundation. After losing her beloved husband Desmond Wilcox to heart disease in 2000, Esther turned her own experience of grief into a determination to help others. She gave her time, energy and voice to us for many years, helping raise awareness of heart disease and supporting the search for better treatments and cures through research. Esther had a genuine curiosity about science and a deep belief in its power to change lives. She took the time to meet BHF-funded researchers in their labs, learn about their work and champion the hope that research brings to people and families affected by cardiovascular disease. What stood out most was her kindness and generosity. Esther celebrated our amazing volunteers by hosting a special afternoon tea to recognise their huge contribution, and she supported our work in countless other ways, from attending fundraising events to donating to her local BHF shop. She even helped us smash a Guinness World Record for the longest chain of paper hearts by adding her own heartfelt message of support. Esther touched the lives of so many people through her work, her campaigning and her unwavering commitment to helping others. We are enormously grateful for her support for BHF and our thoughts are with her family and friends. Words from our Chief Executive, Dr Charmaine Griffiths ❤️

At 17, Jack survived a cardiac arrest. Now age 19, he lives with an ICD and has learned that he has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), an inherited heart muscle condition. Recently, Jack met Professor Hugh Watkins, the scientist who first identified the gene linked to his heart condition and who is now leading groundbreaking research to help find a cure. This World Heart Day, we're celebrating research that gives hope to millions of people living with cardiovascular disease. Together, we're funding the discoveries that could change lives for generations to come. ❤️

Sending love to you all ❤️ #WorldHeartDay

This week, we published our Annual Report 2025/26. Far too many of us have felt the pain of losing someone we love to cardiovascular disease, the world's biggest killer. With your support, British Heart Foundation powers groundbreaking research to save and improve lives. This year, we invested £103 million in world-leading cardiovascular research, and expanded our entire research portfolio to nearly £500 million. We supported thousands of people through our Heart Helpline, trained more lifesavers in CPR, and continued to campaign for better heart health and care across the UK. Some highlights from 2025/26 include: 🔬 £103 million invested in new cardiovascular research 📞 26,000 contacts to our Heart Helpline 📚 More than 3 million monthly views of trusted health information 🚑 More than 500,000 people trained in CPR ⚡ More than 180,000 defibrillators registered on The Circuit 🙌 20,000 volunteers supporting our mission Together, we're creating a world where everyone has a healthier heart for longer. Read our Annual Report 2025/26: https://lnkd.in/e9UqD6Bj

We’re proud to have grown our lifesaving research portfolio to nearly £500 million, the largest since the Covid pandemic. As we support people’s hearts today, we’re also strengthening our foundations for a new era in heart health. Read our annual report: https://lnkd.in/e9UqD6Bj

Meet Zachary ❤️ Living with a heart condition hasn't stopped him from making a difference. He's written a poem about fundraising, and we think it's pretty special.

We're proud to share that our Health Charity Partnership with Tesco, Diabetes UK and Cancer Research UK (CRUK) has been recognised as one of the UK's most admired charity partnerships in the C&E Corporate-Non-Profit Partnerships Barometer 2026 for the fourth year running.    The partnership ranked second this year after leading the rankings for the previous three years. Together, we’re united by a shared ambition to improve the nation’s health.

We need the UK Government to put cardiovascular research in the spotlight. If you agree, sign our open letter and help make cardiovascular research a priority, so more lifesaving breakthroughs are possible. You can find out more and sign the letter here: https://lnkd.in/ddpm5gZK

Many people don't realise they have high blood pressure, often because there are no symptoms. Employers can play an important role in supporting the health and wellbeing of their teams. Through the BHF Health at Work programme, organisations can offer workplace health assessments, including blood pressure and cholesterol checks, helping employees better understand their cardiovascular health and take positive action. https://lnkd.in/dAEtuJN

A huge congratulations to everyone recognised at Friday's Scottish Heart Hero Awards. From fundraisers and volunteers to healthcare professionals, researchers and people living with heart conditions, the evening was a powerful reminder of the impact one person can have. Thank you to everyone helping us fund lifesaving research and support people affected by heart and circulatory diseases. Next up are our Young Heart Hero Awards later this month, followed by our national Heart Hero Awards in November. British Heart Foundation - Scotland Charmaine Griffiths