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Action Heart: our Charity of the Year 2023

Posted on Monday 9th January 2023

Action Heart has been chosen as Ashwood’s Charity of the Year 2023.

Action Heart is a local cardiovascular and exercise rehabilitation charity which is based at Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley.  Action Heart was one of the very first cardiac rehabilitation programmes to be established in the United Kingdom, its original service dating back to 1976. It accepts referrals from Dudley, The Black Country and across the West Midlands which usually total in excess of 1000 each year.

How Does Action Heart Support Patients?

A patient getting exercise support from an Action Heart ‘buddy’ volunteer

From 1976 to present day, the charity has supported almost 18,000 heart patients through its comprehensive rehabilitation programme which includes education, lifestyle assessment, exercise and counselling, together with regular re-assessments through a 12 month programme.   The rehabilitation programme is inclusive of all cardiac conditions, including heart attack, heart surgery, angina and heart failure.

The cardiac rehabilitation programme has now developed to become a cardiovascular programme, now routinely supporting patients with stroke, chronic kidney disease, diabetes and peripheral vascular disease.

Action Heart’s Facilities:

Action Heart’s purpose built facility at Russells Hall Hospital

The rehabilitation service is hosted at the Action Heart Centre, in South Block at Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley. The Centre is a wonderful purpose built facility which is available to patients throughout the week. The Centre contains specialised medical and medical exercise equipment for the patients, much of which could only have been purchased with the aid of public donations and successful grant applications. There is even an outdoor gym at the Centre for Action Heart to encourage use of the outdoor gyms in Dudley’s parks.

A Centre of Excellence:

Action Heart’s service has been recognised as a Centre of Excellence by the Department of Health on a number of occasions in the past and the charity continues to remain at the leading edge of exercise rehabilitation, in large part due to the excellent support the charity receives from the local community.

Recent Developments:

Action Heart’s outdoor gym

Action Heart’s continued development has resulted in the charity providing exercise  rehabilitation courses and support to cancer and Long Covid patients. The charity also provides prehabilitation exercise courses to patients awaiting major surgery in order to reduce surgical complications and aid post surgical recovery.

Green Gym Project:

A forthcoming project, which requires funding support, is the setting up of a ‘Green Gym’ at the Barrow Hill Nature Reserve site next to Russells Hall Hospital, which will allow patients to involve nature to boost both their mental and physical health.

Action Heart’s Fundraisers and Volunteers:

The annual ‘Tuff Un’ sponsored run at Baggeridge Park

Fundraising Action Heart has a small fundraising team which generates funds for Action Heart’s service, mainly by organising activity focused events such as ‘The Tuff Un’ held annually at Baggeridge Park. Action Heart simply couldn’t support the number of patients it does at present without fundraising and the support of the public. 

Action Heart’s success is also reliant on the wonderful support it receives from its small army of 100+ volunteers many of whom are either ex-patients or carers. It is very much a team effort and the volunteers help in many ways including patient education, exercise buddy support, Centre reception/maintenance duties, administration and fundraising.

How will Ashwood raise money?

The Ashwood Charitable Trust supports our Charity of the Year, its main fundraising for this coming from John’s Garden Open Days : £6.50 of every garden entrance fee is donated to our Charity of the Year. We are also fortunate to receive a number of individual private donations from our generous customers and friends and we would like to say a big thank you to anyone who supports our charity in any way, no matter how small.’

Why did we choose this charity?

Philip Baulk, chairman of the Ashwood Charitable Trust, says:

‘We’re pleased to have chosen Action Heart, a local charity helping primarily heart attack and stroke patients to recover from their recent traumas. It provides rehabilitation through exercise and rebuilds confidence to enable patients to return to a fully active life. The NHS offers only a three-month program whereas Action Heart provides a full twelve months of support. They also have plans for a ‘green gym’ in Barrow Nature Reserve adjacent to Russells Hall Hospital which fits well with our charity’s mission. Having moved into their new Centre in back in 2005,  much of their exercise equipment is now in need of replacement and our funding will be a big help in this direction. As well as providing rehabilitation, they also focus on research and prevention of cardio-respiratory disease which would bring a huge benefit to society. The trustees were impressed with their application and their continued commitment to serving the local community.’

Further information:

Action Heart Centre, South Block, Russells Hall Hospital, DY1 2HQ

Registered Charity Number 518586      www.actionheart.com

Ashwood’s Past Fund-Raising:

Interested in our past fund-raising? read more