History

A parent, Anne Scott, set up the Lesley Anne Scott Memorial Fund charity after the death of her daughter Lesley Ann, who was born with a serious heart problem.

Anne Scott retired as a Trustee in 1983 and it was her wish that the charity should be renamed the Childrens’ Heart Unit Fund – CHUF. This was an unincorporated charity (Charity Commission Number 512224). In 2015 the charity was incorporated (Charity Commission Number 1160831) and the name changed slightly to the Children’s Heart Unit Fund.

CHUF’s Vision

Our vision is to support pioneering services that will positively impact heart families, inspire hope and enable Heart Heroes to reach their full potential.

This is achieved by supporting the children and families who receive treatment by the Children’s Heart Unit staff based at Freeman Hospital and raising vital funds for large and small pieces of equipment, facilities, aftercare, salaries and research. CHUF’s charitable activities however go far beyond that of providing medical equipment and personnel. Very much linked to its vision statement, the Charity provides holistic care to the children by providing services and facilities that allow heart children to develop their skills and mature as any healthy child normally would.  Projects that demonstrate some of CHUF’s charitable activities include a home from home for parents and families called Scott House (worth £1.65 million), named after the family who founded CHUF,  extensive play facilities (worth £300,000), The Clown Doctor programme (costing over £30,000 per year) and the funding of the UK first ever Fontan Specialist Nurse (£50,000 per year).

Each year over 300 children are admitted to the Children’s Heart Unit at the Freeman Hospital and over 1000 children return each year for outpatient appointments. Families from all over the UK receive treatment at the Freeman Hospital; it is one of only two  hospitals in the Country to provide children’s heart transplants and is the only unit capable of providing all the services that might be necessary from diagnosis to closing holes in the heart or heart transplantation. Treatment is available to unborn babies, babies , children, tenns and adults who were born with heart disease.

In 2016 CHUF extended its reach to the 6 District General hospitals in the Northern region.

CHUF’s Mission

CHUF’s mission is to create an extended CHUF ‘family’ of supporters, who help people achieve their full potential. Not only do Heart children and families benefit from CHUF’s work, but supporters enjoy the camaraderie and challenge of raising funds. The end results are often very tangible, meaning that people can see exactly what they have helped to achieve. For CHUF’s Patrons, Trustees and Staff this mission is equally true as they use their time and skills knowing the benefits they bring to others.

Charitable Objects

The objects of the CIO are:

To promote the Physical and Mental Health of patients in the United Kingdom and their families suffering from the following conditions:

• Congenital Heart Disease

• Heart disease acquired during childhood

• Pulmonary Hypertension acquired during childhood

• Solid Organ thoracic transplantation acquired during childhood

• To advance the education of the public of the above conditions and particularly but not exclusively by the support of research and the dissemination of the results thereof

CHUF’s Aims

CHUF’s aim is to provide top-up support over and above the current NHS funding and to assist the children and their families from the moment they need the specialist care. Our Trustees and fundraising team work closely with medical staff and families to ensure that CHUF’s support is targeted to where it is most needed. CHUF has bought vital equipment (for example Echocardiogram machines) and funds the salaries of play specialists and clown doctors to keep the children occupied and entertained whilst on the wards.

The CHUF fundraising team provides practical help, working in partnership with many individual and corporate supporters, to maximise fundraising at their events which include family days out, cycle, swimming and running challenges. In addition, CHUF has its own organised events (Children’s Christmas party, and CHUF Toddle) which not only raise funds, but allows families to come together and enjoy themselves.

CHUF’s Values

Always there: sometimes situations are hard but facing things head on together and always being there for each other helps everyone cope even in the hardest of times. We you are on this journey with you and that whatever happens we are ‘always there’.

Champion the little things: Not everything in life needs to be flashy to make a difference. At CHUF we champion the little acts that make a big difference to someone’s day. We are not about big gestures for the sake of it. We understand that people might not remember what we did but they’ll remember how we made them feel.

Commit to doing the right thing: Commitment doesn’t mean you can’t change your mind. At CHUF we always go above and beyond to get the best outcome for each other – by going the extra mile to get the best possible outcome for as many individuals and families as possible.

A place for everyone: CHUF offers a place for anyone effected by a child with heart disease, whether they are now a teenager or a grown up or if they are parent, fundraiser or medical professional. Everyone is part of the family, for life.