Medics Hompage

As we enter our fifth decade, we have taken the opportunity to build on our strong foundations and relationships to collaboratively develop a new strategy to take Chuf into the future. A strategy which is shaped by the shared ambitions that will help us to reach our goals and yours and support Heart Heroes and their families in new ways, at every stage of their lives. Following discovery sessions with representation from all of our stakeholder groups, from Heart Heroes and their families, to Hospital Trusts and expert medics like yourselves, we have refined our big goals, used this new insight to re-define our strategic pillars and how we build on our existing services and support. We are excited for this next phase in our journey and to be the best partner we can be for you and your teams.

Chuf’s vision is to positively impact heart families, inspire hope, and enable Heart Heroes to reach their full potential

Chuf’s mission is to drive positive change to enable pioneering innovation and the delivery of holistic services to provide lifelong benefit for Heart Heroes and their families.

Our big goals:

1. HOLISTIC CARE
To help define a more holistic approach to cardiac care to bring about improvements for Heart Heroes and their families.

2. LIFELONG SUPPORT

To support our Heart Heroes from the moment they need specialist care, throughout their journey and for their entire lives.

3. INNOVATION
To bring much needed funding to support advancements in cardiac care through innovation, ensuring that Chuf’s support is targeted to where it is most needed for our beneficiaries.

How we’ll achieve our goals…

By expanding our impact across the network: As a starting point we will broaden the charity’s recognition and operations across all hospitals in the North East & Cumbria network.

By working with partners as an advocate for change: Working with partners and complementary organisations to broaden our reach and impact as an advocate for our beneficiaries.

By building an even stronger community: With deeper connections with supporters and beneficiaries, and a broader support of research and innovation into a holistic care approach.

How we’ll work with you

Collaboration is at the heart of meaningful impact and we’re in this together.  As we look to the future, Chuf is committed to building deeper, more strategic partnerships with medical professionals and teams who share our goals to support Heart Heroes and their families, for life.

A Trusted Partner
We want to be more than a funder — we want to be a trusted partner.

That means:
• Being involved early: We value insight into how your projects are developed and where the ideas have come from. We bring the voices and lived experiences of our beneficiaries
to help shape more holistic, impactful proposals.
• Open, two-way dialogue: Let’s keep the conversation going year-round, not just at the point of a funding request. We’re here to listen, share insights, and
work together on achieving our goals.
• A shared vision for impact: We want to understand how your request aligns with our strategic pillars, Holistic Care, Lifelong Support, and Innovation and ensure together that Chuf’s support creates long-term, measurable impact.

Applying for Funding:

1. Strategic pillars
Confirm your project fits within one or more of Chuf’s strategic pillars.

2. Complete a grant request
You can download the Chuf Grant Request Form here.

3. Internal approval
• All requests must have appropriate internal Trust approval.
• For larger grants, we may also request evidence that NHS or institutional funding is not available

Funding Thresholds
• Under £500: Approved by the Chuf Director.
• £500 – £4,999: Approved by the Chuf Director and one Trustee representative.
• £5,000+: Must be reviewed at one of Chuf’s six annual Board of Trustees meetings

The Importance of feedback:
We rely on your updates to show the difference our funding makes. Whether through annual reporting or mid-project check-ins, your feedback is invaluable and helps us:
• Celebrate and communicate your success
• Maintain and grow supporter confidence
• Ensure Chuf’s impact continues for future generations

If you have any questions, would like to chat to us about a project or we can help in anyway, please email grants@chuf.org.uk or call the Chuf office on 0191 281 3166.

Find out more about our strategy here: Chuf Strategy for the Future 2025 – Medics