Join the Chuf family...
Join the Chuf family...
Sadly the NHS cannot fund everything needed to make our Heart Heroes’ journey the very best it can be, which is why Chuf provides top-up support that makes a vital difference to families when they need it most.
Your business can become part of something wonderful, enabling life-changing care and supporting Chuf to fund state-of-the-art, innovative equipment, holistic services and specialist roles that are proven to improve the lives of children and families treated on the Children’s Heart Unit at the Freeman hospital and the six other hospitals that care for Heart Heroes from all across the UK.
There many ways to get involved, whether through strategic Corporate-Charity partnerships, nominating Chuf as your Charity of the Year or chosen charity, engaging teams in staff volunteering or even making cash, product or service donations.
Working with Chuf makes it easy to demonstrate your company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) goals all whilst supporting life-changing healthcare in the Northeast and beyond!
Chuf loves working in partnership with companies who care about the same thing as we do; improving the lives of babies and children who are born with or who develop heart conditions. Whether for a short project or a longer commitment, there are lots of benefits to charity partnerships with Chuf.
No two partnerships are ever the same. To get each relationship right, we aim to understand your business, your team and your goals. Get in touch and we’ll talk through ideas you might have; what you want to achieve, and how Chuf can support you to make a huge difference to young people’s lives. Together we can work how your business can best maximise on a charitable partnership with Chuf, as well as determining a plan that is ambitious whilst also being realistic and manageable.
Chuf work with a wide variety of organisations in lots of different ways, so whether you choose Chuf as your Charity of the Year, want to look at sponsorship opportunities or have a fundraising event in mind, we can offer guidance and support. Simply get in touch with us on 0191 281 3166 or contact our Corporate Partnerships Manager by emailing alicia.clovis-mothalib@chuf.org.uk to discuss how we can help get your workplace involved.
Please follow us on Linked in and sign up to our corporate newsletter Chuf’n’Partners here.
To find out more about how your business can get involved, click on the tiles below.
What would your support really mean for our heart heroes?
Heart defects are diagnosed in 1 out of every 133 births in the UK; that’s 14 babies each day. Around 50% of our Heart Heroes are born with a congenital condition (CHD) that may be discovered early or be diagnosed in later life, the other 50% are born with a healthy heart and simply acquire their condition later in childhood, often as a result of an infection or other health complications. Thanks to research and medical advances, more than 8 in 10 Heart Heroes now survive into adulthood but most will require frequent check-ups, surgeries and treatment throughout their lives.
The Freeman Hospital sees over 4,000 Heart Heroes pass through the door annually, with around 300 surgeries taking place on the Children’s Heart Unit. The most serious and complex cardiac cases from all across Great Britain will be sent to the North East for treatment as it’s 1 of only 2 paediatric heart and lung transplant centres in the UK.
Funds raised through our corporate partnerships can make a actual, practical difference to our Heart Heroes’ lives, allowing us to assist them and their families when they need it most.
Chuf provides a range of support, that delivers demonstrable impact. From the little things that aid comfort and make positive memories on the ward, to costly lifesaving equipment, pioneering new research and services that improve quality of life beyond the hospital walls.
Together we can keep cardiac care in the North of England at the cutting edge through both medical and holistic intervention.
Some tangible examples of the things that Chuf’s corporate supporters have helped to achieve in the past and that your funding could support into the future include:
To help you explore the different types of partnership your business could enjoy with Chuf we’ve developed a Corporate Supporter Pack. Just register your company’s details and you’ll receive a downloadable pack with information, guidance and tips on how to get your workforce involved.
Chuf will be hosting a series of Business Networking Events for our corporate supporters. This is a great chance for companies to meet, chat and swap business details.
It’s also an opportunity for Chuf to offer some VIP insight into the valuable work that our corporate partners are helping to support.
To register for the next event click here.
In October 2024 we launched the Chuf Changemakers Community. With over 40 years of providing life-changing care on the Children’s Heart Unit, we’ve built some incredible relationships with businesses, trust funders and major supporter individuals and teams who’ve gone above and beyond to help us deliver world-class care for Heart Heroes.
Chuf Changemakers pledge their support beyond financial aid, to be the folks that Chuf can approach for ideas, guidance, introductions and strategic collaborations. They’re the ones we trust to help bring innovative, pioneering solutions in medical and holistic care to support our NHS trusts and elevate cardiac units in the North.
Changemakers will be the first to hear about upcoming Chuf events, special opportunities and VIP Insight sessions into our work, as well as gaining early access to our business newsletter with thought leaders. Chuf Changemakers’ work and organisations will also be highlighted throughout the year, so that others can be inspired by and encouraged to engage with you both from charity and business perspective.
Alongside our long-term loyal Chuf Changemakers, new charity partners and funders will have the opportunity to attend at least one Changemaker Event per year.
If you’re considering your next Strategic Charity Partner or even Charity of the Year you will be given the opportunity to join Chuf’s Changemakers as an added opportunity to understand the impact and value of your support behind the ward doors.
To register your interest in becoming a Chuf Changemaker CLICK HERE
Volunteers help make our events run smoothly, support necessary tasks and get a chance to see the charity in action.
Corporate partners can support Chuf with people power and in return we can facilitate some heartfelt ‘feel-good’ experiences that also add measurable impact that helps meet those ESG and CSR goals.
We are fortuate to have long-running relationships with companies whose employees repeatedly come along and lend Chuf their time and skills- but with a growing number of events, we’re always looking extend the Chuf family of volunteers!
From administrative tasks in the office, prepping for large events, donning costumes and entertaining children; our corporate volunteers are invaluable.
If your business would like to get involved with corporate volunteering opportunities at Chuf, drop us an email at: events@chuf.org.uk
Whether it’s physical donations of new toys and craft materials for the Chuf playroom, treats and goodies for special occasions or parent Christmas hampers, hygiene products for our emergency washbags, or even prizes for our events, we’d be delighted to work with your company.
It might be that you could offer services or facilities to help the Chuf charity team on a practical level, perhaps providing a venue, entertainment, catering, goods or printed materials to help us run a planned Chuf event. All of this support could save Chuf from spending valuable funds, meaning that they can be directed towards the things that simply can’t come free.
Reaching out to discuss your thoughts around product and service donation is vital, as it allows us to have transparent conversations about what is actually needed and what isn’t. This helps to ensure that gifts-in-kind you plan donate are put to good use.
If you think your company can support Chuf with a gift in kind donation or prizes for future fundraising activity please contact: events@chuf.org.uk
If you’d like to chat about services that could help us email: info@chuf.org.uk
Some companies offer a match-funding scheme to support their employee’s fundraising activity. This means that a member of staff can do their own fundraising for a charity that matters to them and the business will match the amount they raised, doubling the individual’s money for their charitable donation.
Does your work place have a matched giving scheme that could aid your fundraising for CHUF?
Some larger organisations have a charitable fund, that staff can apply to on behalf of their favourite local charity. There may be a simple application or a process of staff nominations or voting. It’s worth checking whether your company has something like this in place as it can be an easy way of supporting your chosen charity or bringing the causes that matter to your employer’s attention.
During Heart Month Chuf partners with local businesses, who pledge their support through sales of their products. This usually takes the form of ‘heart month special’ sweet treats throughout February. Individuals and businesses can get involved by ordering goodies from these companies, who then donate a share of the profits to Chuf.
Chuf highlights our Heart Month partnership on social media channels, allowing supporters and followers to order their treats in February, safe in the knowledge that they’re also helping to raise vital funds for the charity.
To find out more about our 2023’s Heart Month partners: Cake Stories, Dreamworld Cakes and WL Distillery and to see what tasty delights they have on offer simply Click Here
If your business would like to get involved with Heart Month 2025, please get in touch with our Corporate and Trusts Fundraising Manager on: events@chuf.org.uk for an informal chat.
Many businesses don’t realise a Commercial Participation Agreement must be in place before you can publicise your intention to raise money for charity through your sales.
Chuf teamed up with Work for Good to make it easy for companies to donate a small percentage of their profits to charity without spending lots of time or energy on the legal and ethical requirements.
You can just choose Chuf as your charity on their platform, give them a few details and they solve the rest. It’s easy and only takes a few minutes to set up, meaning that you can be safe in the knowledge you’re doing your bit for Chuf all whilst being legally compliant!
Find out more here.
As a legacy of the CHUF’n’builders project, JT Dove have gone onto support Chuf for a decade and have raised in excess of £200k!
Their charity efforts sees all JT Dove sites across the North East getting involved, with events being held throughout the year. By involving their customers, the business makes charity fun for all. So far there’s been golf days, charity van washes, boxing matches, football tournaments, sponsored walks, Great North Running, bike rides, bake sales, and even body waxing!
The charity provide bespoke events, materials and dedicated support to aid the team’s fundraising efforts; sharing valuable insights on how their efforts are affecting positive change in the cardiac care area both locally and nationally. This helps the charity champions in the business to communicate to their wider team, and keep moral and ambitions high!
Following nominations from the Chuf Team, JT Dove have gained several special recognition awards, and picked up the North East Charity Award for best Corporate Charity Partnership 2024.
Managing Director at JT Dove, Michael Young – “ We’re so proud of our partnership with Chuf. It really is a team effort with everyone in the business contributing and doing great things and the Chuf team providing wonderful support”
CHUF’n’Builders formed in 2014 after John Hodgson (Vaughan Engineering) read about Chuf in the news.
John’s idea was to bring together members of the construction industry, who may normally be in competition with one another, to raise funds for a great cause. The response from the sector was fantastic with 7 different companies getting involved who raised over £50K for Chuf! A massive thank you to Vaughan Engineering, Robertson, Ryder Architecture, CAD21, JT Dove & Kinetic Engineers!
Having joined CHUF’n’Builders in 2015, JT Dove are still supporting the charity and in their 150th Anniversary year, raised over £100k for Chuf.
They’re now approaching ten years of support and are heading towards an incredible £250k of funds raised!
Spicers of Hythe worked in partnership with Chuf (Children’s Heart Unit Fund) in 2021 to provide an incredible promotion that benefitted North East Businesses and Heart Heroes alike!
The business wanted to create a special offer that would help North East businesses purchase luxury Christmas gifts for their valued staff and clients, whilst also supporting a much-loved charity on their doorstep! So, for every hamper ordered, North East businesses recieved a 15% discount and Spicers of Hythe donated 10% of the cost of each hamper to Chuf.
This CPA partnership raised £5,000 for Chuf in just 1 month.
The business continues to support the charity through ad hoc gifts in kind donations and prize donations for special events.
Children's Heart Unit Fund - CHUF
Designworks Business Centre
William Street
Gateshead
NE10 0JP
CHUF is a registered charity in England and Wales No 1160831 © 2025.
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