CHSF appreciates that kind gestures – no matter how small – can make the biggest difference to our families.
In February 2025, our Family Support team continue to focus on the wellbeing of heart families thanks to your donations, alongside our financial and practical support. Here’s the full report…
Family support in numbers
- 31 families received tailored family support
(16 of those families were new families for February) - A further 36 families engaged with the Family Support team, including 10 youth!
A total of 69 families supported in February 2025
Financial Support In Numbers
- 12 families received travel grants
- 5 external financial grants completed
- 26 Tesco vouchers given
- 12 meal vouchers for the hospital canteen
Photo: Family Support team, Sarah and Lu, visiting the wards with our wellbeing trolley
7 ‘Sibling Certificates’ given
Such a small gesture can create a huge impact. Our Sibling Certificates validate siblings of our heart patients and let them know how just amazing they are.
Photo: Family Support/Youth Worker Lu with super sibling Perri on the ward last year
Comfort and care package
21 people have accessed our ‘Comfort and Care package‘ including 13 from Adults and Neonatal. This package includes toiletries and essential items.
10 Parent-To-Be packs given to Fetal Clinic
Cardiac Cafe York
Our support extends beyond the hospital walls, with families coming together across the region at our Cardiac Café events.
“Amazing cafe today guys, really enjoyed seeing you all. Plenty to eat and drink. Fun activities for the kids to keep them entertained. Thank you so much for everything you all do.”
“Good location for us. The boys really enjoyed the activities, especially the plastercine. Everyone is so friendly and it was nice to meet more members of the team and catch up.”
Taking some time out
3 families benefited from a time out from the ward this month.
Our time is the most valuable gift we can give, offering a listening ear can support parents to escape their mind and surroundings, and encourage them to take some much needed time for themselves.
“You don’t know how happy I felt after our coffee, it helped to get away and talk”
“I had a big rant and a cry and I feel much better now I have got it all out of my system”
Cross-working and signposting
6 new external services and charities engaged with
February 2025’s impact shows that all aspects of our Family Support service are equally as valuable – no matter how big or small the gesture. CHSF ensure heart families in our region have both practical and wellbeing support throughout their journey with congenital heart disease.
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.
14 amazing heart stories to round-up Heart Month
You not only raised significant donations for CHSF in and around February for Heart Month, but with your help we communicated our cause loud and clear to every corner of the region through your stories! Here’s a round-up of just some of the blogs and local news which...
Grant’s Jump for Joseph
CHSF supporter Grant Houldsworth is dad to heart hero Joseph, and is taking part in our 15,000ft Skydive to thank "all the people who played a part in saving my son’s life". When Joseph was a week old, the family found out he had Coarctation of the Aorta and two...
Luca’s Story
When Luca was born, mum Emma and dad Michael discovered Luca had a very loud heart murmur. The day after, they were transferred from Jimmy’s to the Leeds Children’s Hospital for a heart scan. It was then when they received the congenital heart disease (CHD) diagnosis...