Groups explained
Groups are mini communities on topics of special interest such as a local fundraising branch or an international trek, You can suggest a new group at the bottom of the group home page.
Heart Support Groups - join one today!
Hi everyone,
My name’s Michelle and I work with our 300 heart support groups across England and Wales. Some of you may already be members of a Heart Support Group – if you are, get in touch, I’d love to hear from you. If not, don’t worry, this is the perfect place to find out more about the many different groups out there, and I’ll be here with any questions you may have.
Heart Support Groups are made up of heart patients and carers who support each other. They vary in size and nature, some have only a few members who meet maybe once a week for socials, and others have 100s of members going along to exercise classes, outings, monthly meetings with speakers and all sorts.
If you’ve just been newly diagnosed with a heart condition, or know of someone who has, a heart support group might be just the ticket – plenty of friendly faces, people who’ve been in a similar position, and a good laugh to blow the cobwebs away!
If you want to find out more about HSGs or find out where your nearest group is, take a look at our heart support group page, or just fire away – happy to answer any questions you might have.
Michelle
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Hi everyone,
Just to let you know that we've just produced a short film for our YouTube channel called Top 10 reasons to join a heart support group.
It features interviews from three heart support groups who talk to us about why they decided to join and why they love being part of a support group.
Happy viewing!
Michelle
Hi Diane,
There isn't a list of groups per region or county I'm afraid, but if you email me, we can think about some options for you.
Michelle
Hi Diane & Michelle, really sorry to hear there isn't a list
Of support groups, places, times and dates etc? If this is
Something the BHF can't add to their website I would be
More than happy to add it to mine.
Please do get back to me and if necessary I will start
A list with details ASAP.
Thank you Diane for bringing this to our attention.
Regards
John
www.ttab.co.uk
Hi John and Diane,
I had a chat to Diane and discovered that she was looking for a group in her local area of Basingstoke, so all OK.
Having a full list of groups available on our website does seem like a good idea, but as individuals are usually only ever interested in finding out where their nearest group is, I suggest using our online map to find out where your local group is, which you can do by typing in your post code in the search box.
Michelle
When I first saw that there were support groups I was over the moon. I thought it was just the ticket. Sadly, when I looked into it I found that it really wasn't for me. I was looking for groups of young people who were struggling with a newly diagnosed heart condition, or those who were getting on with life after a diagnosis. I found the groups to be older people; hardly people who were trying to cope with returning to work, raise a young family, provide for their dependants, basically having no choice but to stay strong and carrying on with life as they were way too young to medically retire etc.
I don't know what I'm trying to say...I appreciate that these groups aren't going to be for everyone, I was just a little disappointed there wasn't anything for people in a similar situation to myself. Maybe things have changed in the last couple of years, maybe not.
Hi Michelle, Diane and Carl
M..Great to hear there is a map on BHF site with local groups for people but it doesn't tell you the times, days and activies of each group.
I still feel that a list of groups perhaps by post code - with contact details - days they operate (perhaps wrong word) open and what activies they do on each meeting.
Then people can decide which is the best group for them, like Carl I went to a group where they all do the Okie Cokie and drank tea. Well it wasn't the group for me although they were all very nice people. I would rather travel a little further for the right group and/or activity,
A woodland or park walk would be a great start - you could get to meet various heart patients to chat too and gain from some of their experiances, while at the same time be able to exercise at a rate/pace that suits you. Perhaps meeting the group at the start and finish. At the start the group could be split into smaller groups that walk at different paces, then all meet afterwards for a chat and tea.
Well thats my opinion - whats yours?
John 
Well done John, you just made me laugh with the Okie Cokie line. 
I like your idea of the exercise outdoors, and I'm sure that some of the groups do such a thing its just finding one that will suit you I guess.
I feel the problem is that, and please please please correct me if I am wrong, but the heart groups are set up by groups or individuals who then affiliate to the BHF at a later stage. As such, the activities that the group then does is dictated by the group themselves with no common standards. For example, two seperate groups may suggest that they hold regular fitness sessions. Only when you arrive at Group 1 their idea of fitness is a gentle stroll around a community hall. Group 2 on the other hand was formed by a handful of members of the Rambling Assoc and so their idea of exercise is a 12 mile yomp across the farm and lowlands. Both would be classed as walking but obviously on different scales. I don't see how these differences could be seperated on a map, or whatever. The only way is to contact each group individually. Of course each group needs to tailor their activities to the group, it just makes it hard for newcomers.
Maybe the BHF could give each group a mini page on the site and encourage them to say a bit about themselves, what they do and maybe put up a few photos. Failing that a list of links. It would certainly be easier than calling each one. It would be better for the group too rather than have a person turn up one week only to never return. Demoralising for the group possibly amongst other issues.
As for my experience with trying to find a group that suits me, well I did find one through a different organisation not related to the BHF, however it was a very long distance away so not really very practical. I did think of setting one up myself, once; a heart support group at its essence, but placing an emphasis on life in general like resuming work/college, family, sport, etc as opposed to chess and tea. Young(er) people at its heart, the people who really are not catered for when it comes to heart support. I had big ideas, but realistically I wouldn't know where to start, what was involved in the setting up and the necessary rules and legislation to overcome, whether it would have the support/following it needed to exist, and whether I am even capable of running such a group. Then there were the costs. I would hate to put in so much work only for it to die on its a*** within a few weeks and end up turning into another Okie Cokie club like that mentioned above.
I don't know why I even still think of it, wishful thinking I guess.
Hi Michelle
It's great to see you have started up this discussion area within the BHF community pages.
My goodness - I didn't realise there were 300 heart support groups in England and Wales! That must represent a lot of people with heart conditions, and it's good news that we now have this forum for discussion.
I've been a member of Poole Heart Support Group for almost 8 years now, and I would strongly recommend anyone with heart conditions to join a local group if you haven't done so already. You will find yourself alongside others with a wide range of heart conditions - some probably with the same, or similar, to your own. As one of our own local members said - "We are all survivors". You can't say it any better than that!
I look forward to seeing further posts here.
Best wishes
David