Our Team

We have always gone above and beyond, we’re here to help. To contact any member of the team, please call the main office number 0113 831 4810.

Meet the CHSF team

Amanda Warrent

Corporate Partnerships Manager

I help businesses with team building, boosting staff morale and brand awareness. I love to go on a journey with all our Corporate partners, so if you choose CHSF I’ll be with you all the way to give you lots of support and inspire your staff with how your donations have made a difference.

Cath Cook

Head of Finance, Resource and Governance

I am responsible for Financial Management, co-ordinating budgets and financial reporting to help ensure that CHSF delivers as much support as possible to its beneficiaries.

Catherine Brown

Finance, Resource and Governance Manager

I assist with the finance and administration for the charity. Part of my role involves managing grant applications, from approval until the grants are fulfilled. This is a great part of my role as I can see the impact that each individual grant makes in supporting children and families across the region.

Katie Bear

Charity Mascot

Rumour has it that the design for Katie Bear was drawn by a young patient called Katie, encouraged by her grandfather. We’re proud to have Katie as our mascot, she’s been with us since the charity started in 1988. Although she might have changed a bit over the years, her amazing hugs remain the same!

Keely Scanlon

Community & Events Fundraiser

My role supports the fundraising team across a range of fundraising events and community activities, making sure our supporters are sent everything they need to fundraise for CHSF and feel supported throughout. I am also responsible for the CHSF lottery and heart family tree administration and fulfilling shop orders.

Lauren Procter

Community & Events Fundraiser

My role is to look after our wonderful community fundraisers; whether that is a heart-family, an individual, a school or group. I’m here to support them through their fundraising journey. I also project manage our fundraising events, such as our annual Wear Red Day and Superhero Walk. I champion and raise awareness of the charity and its fundraising initiatives at every opportunity.

Lucy McMahon

Family & Youth Support Worker

My role is working within the Family Support team to help our heart families while being treated. I am also working with our young people as they go through transition in their care.

Olivia Lewis

Digital Marketing Manager

My role is to manage and develop our social media platforms, website and digital presence as well as championing the CHSF brand and creating content to aid in our fundraising. I work to raise awareness of the charity and highlight its valuable work throughout the region.

Rachel Ireland

Trusts and Foundations Manager

I work with grant makers to help fund CHSF’s services, accommodation, events, equipment, and research - and make sure they can see the amazing impact their grants have on the lives of children with congenital heart disease and their families.

Ruth Davany

CEO

As CEO, I am responsible for the overall management of the charity. This includes managing the CHSF team, updating and working with the CHSF Board of Trustees and working closely with the LCHU to give them vital equipment, facilities, staff and training.

Sarah Cherry

Head of Family Support

My role is to help our heart families access services, provide practical support to families whilst being treated. I also set up, promote and deliver lots of exciting activities for our families.

Trustees

Our Trustees have a legal responsibility for the charity, this means their role is about ensuring we are doing everything we need to do to continue delivering our valued help and support. CHSF Trustees bring a diverse range of skills and many are heart parents or heart patients.

Alison Conchie

General Manager of the Yorkshire & Humber Congenital Cardiac Network

Carin Van Doorn

Consultant Congenital Cardiac Surgeon in Leeds for over 10 years

Colin Clewes

Adult Patient Representative, Chair of Marketing & Fundraising Subcomittee (MARFUN)

Director, Pennine Signs

Fiona Willcoxson

Clinical Director of the Yorkshire & Humber Congenital Cardiac Network

Jason King

Parent Representative

Head of People, Westfield Health

Matthew Fidler

Chair of Financial and Risk Subcommittee (FRSC)

Co-Founder of TYR Law

Ryan Wilkinson

Parent Representative

Tax Director, BHP Chartered Accountants

Sophie Dunn

Parent Representative

Director of Sales, DoubleTree York

Wendy Haigh

Treasurer, Parent Representative

Owner of WM Haigh & Co Accountants

Ambassadors

Our charity ambassadors play a vital role in helping us share the impact of our work and inspire others to get involved. Each of them has a unique reason for supporting Children’s Heart Surgery Fund and generously gives their time and voice to help heart families across our region.

Tommy Frank

Tommy Frank was born with heart disease and had an Atrial Septal Defect repair when he was 5 years old at the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit. He began boxing at 13, and went on to have 45 amateur fights before turning professional in 2016 – then landing flyweight and super flyweight titles in Britain, the Commonwealth and internationally. He has recently retired and gone into coaching and personal training. Tommy says: “My role will be to do with fundraising, supporting the heart parents and attending events. I’m so excited and so grateful to be given this role and I’m going to do my best in it.” Tommy’s life experiences and career achievements make him an ideal ambassador, and we know he will be a huge inspiration to patients and families.

Junior Frood

Young dancer Junior Frood is an anti-bullying campaigner, freestyle dance champion and fundraiser. Junior says: “It hurt me so much when I heard that some children get bullied due to them having time off school or because of their scars.” “So through my anti-bullying work with the Diana Award I am going to work with the children on self-esteem issues to help them stand up to the bullies. Scars are proof that they are a survivor and a heart warrior.” “I would urge people to please donate and raise awareness of the charity as the work the charity does provides medical equipment, staff and education that saves lives.” Junior’s talent, strength of character and communication skills make him a fabulous role model particularly for our young patients and supporters

Saira Ali

Saira Ali is a Landscape Architect and Team Leader for Landscape, Design and Conservation at Bradford Council. Saira says: “As an ambassador, I have a platform to raise awareness about the impact of heart disease on children and families, and to encourage others to get involved in supporting CHSF.” “I’d like to raise awareness about the impact of heart disease on families, using my personal and professional networks to spread the word about the charity’s mission and programmes, and encourage others to get involved in supporting the cause.” “I want to support the team to connect with communities, and reach families affected by heart disease in our area.”

Who is Katie Bear?

We’re proud to have Katie Bear as our macot. Katie has been with the charity since 1988. Find out more about Katie here.

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Jobs at CHSF

Check out opportunities to join the CHSF team

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