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We’re delighted to share some incredible news from the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit Echo department.

The Congenital Echo Department at Leeds General Infirmary has become the first congenital department in the UK to achieve Departmental Accreditation from the British Society of Echocardiography (BSE) for paediatric and adult congenital echocardiography, as well as training provision.

The Congenital Echo Team, made up of highly specialist cardiac physiologists and clinical scientists, provides vital heart scans and assessments for patients of all ages. Working closely with consultants and the wider multidisciplinary team, they play a key role in diagnosing, monitoring and supporting people with congenital heart conditions throughout their lives.

Jan Forster, Consultant Congenital Clinical Scientist, said:

“This accreditation is a recognised benchmark of quality and demonstrates that the department meets established and robust quality standards. It also shows that the department is well organised, with appropriate facilities, equipment and processes to ensure the services delivered are clinically adequate to provide safe and effective patient care.

“Special thanks to Sophie Bancroft and Laura Duffy, who have been pivotal in this team effort, which has taken many years and a great deal of hard work to achieve.”

We’re incredibly proud to support such an outstanding team as they continue to provide world-class care for children, young people and adults living with congenital heart disease across Yorkshire, The Humber, N.E Lincolnshire and North Derbyshire.

Photo credit: Leeds Teaching Hospitals

Supporting excellence in congenital care

We’re proud to support the incredible teams at the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit. With your help, we can continue funding projects and initiatives that make a real difference to patients and families across our region.

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“When your child is having open heart surgery in hospital, it is so frightening and worrisome we were just so glad that we had this charity to support us and other families who went through the same thing without your support.“
— heart mum

During the month of June…

• 46 families worked with overall

• 29 families received a tailored packaged of Family Support

• 17 families engaged with

  —

• 6 young people and their families worked with and supported

• 7 Travel Grants given
• 1 attended Cardiac Cafe
• 18 Supermarket Vouchers given
• 0 Exceptional Grants given

Collaboration

Somerville ‘Hearts Together’ Conference
This month, Katie Bear, Ruth and Lu attended the Somerville Heart Foundation ‘Hearts Together’ event in Leeds. It was a fantastic day filled with talks about wellbeing, medication and the lives of adult heart patients – one of whom had her first heart surgery in 1950! We have left feeling full of excitement for the future and look forward to more events like this!

Cardiac Cafe in Scunthorpe
The team were on the road again this month with a Cardiac Café in Scunthorpe, hosted at one of the local family hubs. The fantastic regional Children’s Cardiac Nurse Specialist, Jemma, come along. The topics of wellbeing, nursery and signposting to local services came up – alongside a good brew and a pastry. Check out future events and sign up.

Support on the ward
Father’s Day

In June we celebrated Father’s Day with the families on Ward 51. We provided a Father’s Day themed wellbeing trolley and a box of goodies for families to gift.

When a family is on the ward there may not be time or the mental space to think about making these special occasions. We want to elevate some of that pressure for families, by enabling children to pick something out for a parent/ carer while they are in hospital, lets families mark these events in a way that works for them.

Community and our fantastic families on Facebook

As a team we want to support families at every stage of the journey, and sometimes families are there to support each other.

This month the Family Support team received a request for support from a family who have had a postnatal diagnosis, who were apprehensive about surgery. The family had accessed forums online that shared some information that heightened this concern for the family.

Our team signposted the family to our private Facebook group and the messages of encouragement, peer to peer connection and wealth of experience of being a heart parent/carer.

The stories of hope and care that were shared with this new heart family were a fantastic example of how CHSF helps families find community in a time that has often been described as isolating.

How is Family Support making a tangible difference to families?

Long term family on the ward

The Family Support team have been working closely with a family who are on their fourth month as an inpatient. The Team first met [Baby]* and her family in November and were able to refer the family to early help, assist the family with assessing a food bank and provide care and wellbeing to the family before an initial discharge from hospital in December.

The family were readmitted in March and were already known to the Family Support team. The family were immediately able to access an emergency admission pack as well as weekly Tesco vouchers and a travel grant.

Through our wellbeing initiative, we were able to tailor how we worked with the family, providing siblings with activities, mum with essential items and ensuring that the family had the ability to accesses food that was tailored to their dietary needs.

The team have been able to navigate a language barrier and provide children’s books and resources in Urdu for the family. This small gesture was appreciated by the family as they felt they were able to access what they needed in a way that worked for them.

*Name removed for privacy

“CHSF helped make me the young man I am today”

This month sees a lot of our young people finishing secondary school and looking to the future. We provide a service that continues to support our Heart Warriors through this journey as they head into the world of post 16 education. One of our fantastic young people, Archie, has been with CHSF from the start and wanted to share this:

“As I was born with a heart condition Children’s Heart Surgery Fund have always been there for me, and I have grown up with them! I have never known any different and they have been there to support me through every stage of my childhood, almost like an extension of my family.

“When I got into my teenage years the fun really started with so many events. I have eaten so many Dominos pizzas with the CHSF team I have lost count! From fun days out at activity centres, to safe boxing with former champions! The list goes on, a particular favourite of mine was the paint and sip night with mocktails! My painting is still proudly displayed in my lounge! CHSF helped make me the young man I am today, and I can’t wait for more activities!”

Join CHSF’s Youth Hub

This free membership gets you access to our events, an opportunity to be a member of the Youth Voice panel and to influence what CHSF does for you going forward. Become a member to build peer connections and have the opportunity to connect, have fun and make a difference. Find out more

It’s only with the help of our incredible supporters that we can continue to be there for every family that needs us. Thank you.

Find out more about CHSF Family Support

We are extremely grateful to The Liz & Terry Bramall Foundation for their generous support over three years towards our Family Support Service.

Job opportunity
Corporate Partnerships Manager

Help empower the lives of everyone born with congenital heart disease (CHD) in our region.

Our Fundraising and Marketing team are the driving force behind our charity.  We are 100% self-funded, and we successfully manage a diverse range of income streams to ensure we can deliver our help and support each year.  Children’s Heart Surgery Fund are proud of our Corporate Partnerships, we invest in relationships to maximise opportunities for businesses to fundraise for us and get involved in our activities and events.

We are looking for an exceptional person who is a natural relationship builder to join CHSF as one of two full-time Corporate Partnership Managers.  Reporting directly to the CEO, you will be responsible for securing new business and seeing these partnerships through to co-deliver meaningful income generating projects that are enjoyable for teams as well as valuable for us.

Closing date: Monday 3 August 2026, 10am
Interviews will be held at our Leeds office wc. 17 August 2026

SEE FULL ROLE DESCRIPTION

For more information, including an informal chat about the role please contact ruth.davany@chsf.org.uk

If you would like to apply, please submit a CV and personal statement to detail how you meet the criteria in the person specification. Applications should be emailed to hr@chsf.org.uk

You can also apply via CharityJob by uploading your CV and cover letter.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all parts of the community.

LATEST NEWS

Leah and Brad found out the 20 week scan that their daughter, Mabel, had Coarctation of the aorta, a large Ventricular septal defect (VSD) and a smaller left side of the heart. She had open heart surgery at five days old.

Now Mabel’s family are taking on the Leeds Inflatable 5k to raise funds for CHSF, to say thank you for the care they received.

“Mabel was born in December 2025, but our heart journey began much earlier. At our 20-week scan, we were told that Mabel had serious heart problems. Like the 13 babies in the UK who are diagnosed with congenital heart disease (CHD) every day, Mabel would face challenges from the very beginning of her life.

“From that moment on, we were cared for by the amazing team in Leeds, and throughout our journey there were many charities that supported us. However, the charity that made the biggest difference to our family was Children’s Heart Surgery Fund.

“When Mabel needed open heart surgery, they gave us a place to stay near the hospital, providing us with so much more than just accommodation. We had our own private bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, dining area, living space and laundry facilities – a safe and comfortable place to stay close to our little girl while being so far from home.

“They also helped ease the financial pressures of our stay by providing money for washing facilities, toiletries, food and other essentials. Their kindness didn’t stop there. Mabel received a Katie Bear, a medal and a certificate to celebrate her incredible bravery after open heart surgery. Her big sister, Delilah, was also made to feel special with a Super Sister sibling certificate.

“Throughout our stay, Katie Bear paid visits with gifts, and the charity made sure Christmas was magical despite everything we were facing. On Christmas Eve, they brought presents for us and both girls, and on Christmas morning we woke up to huge bags of gifts waiting outside our door. During one of the hardest times of our lives, CHSF brought comfort, joy and hope when we needed it most.

“What many people don’t realise is that Children’s Heart Surgery Fund does so much more. They provide things like home heart-monitoring devices, training for cardiac staff – the list goes on. They are not a government-supported charity, so everything they do is only possible thanks to donations and fundraising.

“Quite simply, we couldn’t have made it through our journey without them.

“This is why on 20th June, me, Brad, Alicia and Kenisha will be taking on a 5K Inflatable Run to raise money for the incredible Children’s Heart Surgery Fund.

“We want to give something back to the charity that gave so much to us and helped carry our family through the toughest chapter of our lives. Every donation will help CHSF continue supporting children with heart conditions and their families, providing practical help, comfort and care when it is needed most.

“Thank you for supporting us, supporting Mabel, and helping other families facing a similar journey. Every mile we run is for Mabel, and for every child and family who needs the support of Children’s Heart Surgery Fund.”

A huge thank you to Leah, Brad, Alicia and Kenisha who are taking on the 5K Inflatable Run to raise funds for CHSF tomorrow! Please sponsor them if you can! www.justgiving.com/page/leah-rattenbury-1

A donation today helps us continue providing practical, family‑focused support to babies like Mabel and their loved ones throughout treatment and recovery.

Please help us continue to support more families who need us.

Donate now

“The support was amazing and the team got me through the hardest time of my life. Amazing support” — heart mum

During the month of May…

• 39 families worked with overall

• 23 families received a tailored packaged of Family Support

• 8 families engaged with

  —

• 6 young people and their families worked with and supported

• 13 Travel Grants given
• 7 attended Cardiac Cafe
• 27 Supermarket Vouchers given
• 0 Exceptional Grants given

Moments this month

Chylothorax Snacks
Sometimes the smallest ideas can make the biggest difference. This month, through conversations with the play team and dietitian, we identified a new way to support children on Ward 51 who are following a Chylothorax diet as part of their recovery.

A Chylothorax diet is a special low-fat diet used to help some children recover after heart surgery by reducing strain on the body while it heals. We recognised that many of the snacks typically offered through the wellbeing trolley were not suitable for these patients, meaning some children were unable to fully take part when the trolley visited the ward.

In response, we created a dedicated snack box filled with “Chylothorax safe” options for children and families to choose from. This simple initiative has helped ensure children on restricted diets can still be included in wellbeing activities, offering them greater choice, independence and a sense of normality during their hospital stay.

“Thank you to all the supporters that have allowed us to provide some tasty snacks for our patients on the specialist MCT diet! The diet is needed in some cases after surgery to stop drains flowing. It is really hard to stick to and very limited, meaning meals can be boring, and snacks can be repetitive. Having some different options available is exciting and brightens up a boring day on the ward. It will also help children struggling with weight loss to get some extra energy on board. This will really help so many children moving forward.” – Alix, Dietitian

Being able to choose a snack alongside other children may seem small, but for families navigating long inpatient stays and recovery, these moments of inclusion and autonomy can have a meaningful impact on emotional wellbeing.

Family Support on the Road
Leeds Cardiac Cafe

This month we hosted our Cardiac Café at Café 21 Co, a lovely coffee shop run by our friends at Sunshine and Smiles. We always value opportunities to work alongside organisations whose values align so closely with our own, and it was incredibly special to bring families together in a space built on inclusion and understanding.

The Cardiac Café provided a safe and social environment where families could connect with others who simply “get it”, without needing to explain their story, justify their emotions or feel like they need to hide their experiences.

These informal community spaces continue to be so valued by the families we support. They offer opportunities for peer connection and create moments of understanding away from the hospital environment. For many parents, simply being able to sit with others who understand their journey can be incredibly powerful.

One parent shared:
“Thank you to the ladies at the Cardiac Cafe in Leeds today, enjoyed a coffee with some lovely company. Highly recommend for families to come along to these in the future, a great space to share all sorts of emotions and stories with a team who have been with us from the very start.”

Feedback like this this highlights the importance of creating compassionate spaces where families feel listened to, supported and part of a wider community throughout their heart journey.

How is Family Support making a tangible difference to families?

Celebrating Siblings

This month, we continued to recognise the importance of supporting not only our patients and parents, but the wider family unit too. One family has now been on the ward for over six weeks, with mum staying alongside baby throughout this time. During the month, the patient’s older sister was able to visit the hospital for a special sibling visit. To help celebrate this important moment, we presented her with a personalised “Super Sister” certificate, including her name and the date of her visit.

Although a small gesture, the impact was significant. The visit allowed the sibling to feel included in her sister’s journey and recognised for the important role she plays within her family. Her time on the ward was filled with cuddles, play and quality time together, helping to maintain family bonds during a prolonged hospital admission. Alongside ongoing practical support through travel grants and weekly Tesco vouchers, this moment highlighted the importance of emotional wellbeing and ensuring siblings feel seen, valued and connected during challenging times.

Taking a break

Long-term hospital admissions can be a hard time, particularly when families are balancing life between the ward and hospital accommodation. This month, we supported one family who have been in hospital for over two months with a Deliveroo voucher for mum and dad.

Following conversations around wellbeing support, the family shared that what would help them most was the opportunity to enjoy a hot meal together without the pressure of cooking or leaving the hospital. By providing a takeaway voucher, parents were able to spend intentional time together in the Brotherton Wing accommodation while remaining close to the ward and their child. This offered both comfort and peace of mind.

While practical in nature, this support created space for parents to pause, reconnect and feel cared for themselves, something that can often be overlooked during lengthy inpatient stays.

Youth Event
Boxing with Tommy Frank

This month we teamed up with our ambassador, Tommy Frank, to deliver a ‘Boxing for Wellbeing’ workshop for young people. Tommy Frank is a professional boxer from Sheffield who was born with congenital heart disease and underwent open heart surgery at the age of five. He went on to build a successful career in boxing, becoming a champion and using his platform to inspire others.

The session gave young people the opportunity to learn basic boxing techniques in a safe, supportive and inclusive environment, while also hearing Tommy’s powerful personal story. His journey offered a clear message that a health condition does not define potential, and that goals and ambitions can still be achieved, even if the path looks different.

Young people were fully engaged throughout, working collaboratively to learn boxing combinations, try something new, and build confidence through movement and activity. The workshop also provided a valuable space for focus, self-expression and wellbeing, with both young people and staff actively participating and enjoying the session together.

Tommy’s encouragement and openness had a lasting impact, helping young people reflect on resilience, identity and what they can achieve.

Find out more about our work with young people here.

It’s only with the help of our incredible supporters that we can continue to be there for every family that needs us. Thank you.

Find out more about CHSF Family Support

We are extremely grateful to The Liz & Terry Bramall Foundation for their generous support over three years towards our Family Support Service.

Because of the incredible work of the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit and because of your support, Kalina celebrated her first heartiversary on 3rd June this year.

Happy Heart Day Kalina from all of us at Children’s Heart Surgery Fund!

Kalina’s mum Karly-Kay said:

“It’s been a whole year since discharge.

“I still see blue themed corridors and hear the noises from being in intensive care, the sound of crash carts rushing to go save another child’s life and the goosebumps that follow. The “we’ve got this” look from fellow heart parents.

“I remember the long, sleepless nights. The drains coming from her chest and the endless wires in every direction I looked. The dressings, the stitches, the medications.

“But I also remember how her eyes lit up when she first saw us after surgery – like all was right in the world because her mum was there.”

“With a daughter like mine, the good will forever outweigh the bad. But this past week- marking a year since life-saving open heart surgery, we let ourselves feel, reminisce and remind ourselves how incredibly grateful we are to get a second chance at doing life together.

“7 hours , 8 minutes and 54 seconds in theatre for a lifetime of gratitude and love. Thank you Children’s Heart Surgery Fund for making miracles happen and thank you to Dr Giuseppe Pelella for saving my child’s life.

“I will never stop bragging about my heart warrior but also about every single person who has been a part of our journey to get to where we are. Every surgeon, every doctor, every specialist, every PICU nurse, every HDU nurse, every staff member on L51. You didn’t just save her life, you saved mine.”

A donation today helps us continue providing practical, family‑focused support to babies like Kalina and their loved ones throughout treatment and recovery.

Please help us continue to support more families who need us.

Donate now

Heart mum Danielle shares her experience of daughter Matilda’s heart condition – from diagnosis at 20 weeks to the time they spent at Leeds General Infirmary and once home.

She’s now taking on a 100km Ultra Challenge to give something back to CHSF after the support her family received along the way.

“When I was around 20 weeks pregnant, I had an amniocentesis due to a suspected chromosome normality. It was during that scan that the consultants noticed a problem with Matilda’s heart.

“I was sent straight for a scan with the cardiology team and they initially diagnosed Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). They said that Matilda would need several operations and may not live beyond five years old – which obviously broke us.

“But as her parents we had to keep fighting for her. I had scans every week – sometimes several times a week – and towards the end of my pregnancy, a scan revealed that it her heart issue wasn’t HLHS afterall and was Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) and Bicuspid Aortic Valve (BAV).

“I had a planned induction at Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) and we stayed there for around one month. Matilda had open heart surgery at five days old and had a keyhole surgery at five months old. She now has scans around every nine months and is doing amazingly well!

“During one of the most difficult and emotional times in our lives, CHSF were there in so many ways. Whilst in hospital we felt totally helpless, but Children’s Heart Surgery Fund were there to offer emotional support, and also financial support too. We lived in Eckersley House whilst there which we are extremely grateful for (CHSF make a donation towards this accommodation each year). CHSF provided us with a grant so that during the hardest time of our lives, at least the financial strain was reduced.

“They helped to provide food vouchers while staying in hospital, small but meaningful gifts like Katie Bear (their mascot teddy), certificates and medals for heart warriors, and crucial emotional and psychological support for families going through similar experiences.

“The Charity still support me now. I am in regular contact with the team and I am so grateful that I am able to turn to CHSF for support. Their social media page has also enabled me to reach out to other heart warrior mums which has helped so much. Thank you so much for all you have done for me and my family!

“On Saturday 4th July to raise funds for CHSF, I am taking on the Peak District 100km Ultra Challenge. I want to give as much back as I can and raise as much awareness as possible. In many ways, I keep thinking… ‘if I can get through those moments and the pain of seeing her go through that, then I can get through this challenge too.’ This run is my way of turning that experience into something positive.

“I’ve wanted for a long time to give something back but never felt able to do anything meaningful enough. I may not be able to change what we went through, but I can take on something that pushes me to my limits to help support other families who will go through the same thing.”

Danielle is taking on the Peak District 100km Ultra Challenge to raise money for CHSF and to support other families going through similar experiences. If you’d like to support her, you can donate at www.justgiving.com/page/danielle-nugent-5

Matilda turned 2 on 24 May, because of you!

We want to shout the biggest “Happy Birthday” to Matilda from all of us at Children’s Heart Surgery Fund.

We hope you have the best day!

A donation today helps us continue providing practical, family‑focused support to babies like Matilda and their loved ones throughout treatment and recovery.

Please help us continue to support more families who need us.

Donate now

“Thank u for remembering me. I can imagine u meet lots of families“
— heart mum, during a ‘touching base’ call

During the month of April…

• 63 families worked with overall

• 25 families received a tailored packaged of Family Support

• 38 families engaged with

  —

• 16 young people and their families worked with and supported

• 5 Travel Grants given
• 10 attended Cardiac Cafe
• 21 Supermarket Vouchers given
• 0 Exceptional Grants given

Moments this month

There for the ‘firsts’
“We have a 4-month-old who has been in hospital since birth. Like many of our newest heart warriors we watch them grow and develop, we are there to see their firsts and share the small wins with families.

“This particular baby is developing to be very nosey and has started exploring his environment as Mum holds him in her arms which is something she wasn’t able to do for such a long time. Knowing the family and recognising how much he is starting to explore we were able to wheel in the L51 Sensory Trolley (funded by CHSF) – this is something Mum had never used before.

“On seeing how happy both Mum and Baby were as he watched himself in the mirror whilst looking at the lights, we knew this gesture of understanding their needs had created a lasting first for them and a small win we were able to share together.” – Lu, Family & Youth Support Worker

Including the whole family
“When a newborn was rushed to Leeds as an emergency admission, we were there immediately for the family to offer the practical support needed, however it is the relationship we have built that has enabled Mum to feel safe, voice her needs and feel connected to CHSF.

“The family is of Muslim faith, and this is something that is so very important to her especially now her son is critically ill. We have prioritised respecting Mum’s religious beliefs, talking about this with her, asking questions and taking time to understand the importance of it. Her family are also very present and supportive, and again we take the time to greet them, ask how they are and make them feel included.

“We go the extra mile to make each family feel like they are the most important thing to us in that moment, and we can’t possibly put a cost on valuing another person and what this means to them as an individual.” – Sarah, Head of Family Support

Family Support on the Road
Sheffield Cardiac Cafe

This month the team went to Sheffield for our fourth cardiac café of the year. Four families (10 people) attended and shared their journey and experiences. Over cups of tea families were able to make connections and hear about what helped them through their journey. For some it was fundraising, for other it was music and sometimes, it was simply being with their family.

The Family Support team were able to connect with families and provide support and referrals after the event.

How is Family Support making a tangible difference to families?

Visiting siblings and cousins

In April we have seen many families visiting the ward over the Easter holidays and on sunny afternoons. We have been able to keep siblings and visiting cousins entertained with packs of crafts, Lego and ‘Super Sibling’/’Super Cousin’ certificates. These make the children who aren’t the patient feel seen and valued by CHSF.

Young adults on the ward

This month the team have been supporting long-term inpatients on the wards. This has included a craft session, organising a much appreciated Bubble Tea treat, and working closely with the team of Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust youth workers to engage young people and encourage them to attend Youth Club.

Heart families in community

This month saw the launch of the Family Support ‘Touching Base’ model where the team follow-up with families after they have been discharged. This is to check in with families and see if they need any more support from CHSF.

From these calls the Family Support team have supported families with finding food banks, signposting for housing support, connecting families with their local family hubs and simply just having a chat.

It’s only with the help of our incredible supporters that we can continue to be there for every family that needs us. Thank you.

Find out more about CHSF Family Support

We are extremely grateful to The Liz & Terry Bramall Foundation for their generous support over three years towards our Family Support Service.