Children's Heart Surgery Fund

Charity Number: 1148359

Geographic Focus: Throughout England

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Quick Stats

  • Founded: 1988
  • Total Grants Awarded: Over £10 million (since 1988)
  • Decision Time: Up to 12 months (for large projects requiring fundraising)
  • Grant Range: £50 - £100,000+
  • Geographic Focus: Yorkshire, the Humber, North East Lincolnshire, and North Derbyshire
  • Patients Supported: Over 17,000 babies, children and adults annually

Contact Details

Website: http://www.chsf.org.uk

Email: info@chsf.org.uk

Phone: 0113 831 4810

Contact for Applications: Katherine Lodge at info@chsf.org.uk

Overview

Established in 1988, the Children's Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF) is an award-winning, self-funded regional charity supporting the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit at Leeds General Infirmary and the regional congenital heart disease (CHD) network. Over 35 years, CHSF has awarded more than £10 million in hundreds of grants supporting medical equipment, clinical posts, research, family accommodation, and direct family support services. The charity's mission is to enhance the quality of care and support available to babies, children and adult congenital cardiac patients treated at the Leeds unit. CHSF is wholly funded by donations and supports over 17,000 patients living with CHD each year across Yorkshire, Humberside, and North Lincolnshire. The charity employs 15 staff members and is governed by a board of trustees comprising clinical staff, parents, and business leaders.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

CHSF operates a single, flexible grant program with awards ranging from £50 to over £100,000. The application process is tiered by grant size:

  • Up to £5,000: Reviewed by CEO
  • £5,000 - £10,000: Reviewed by Finance Sub-Committee
  • Over £10,000: Considered by full Board of Trustees (requires CEO agreement)

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis through an online application form.

Priority Areas

CHSF will fund anything that directly supports people with congenital heart disease, including:

  • Life-saving medical equipment and cutting-edge technology (e.g., echocardiogram machines, specialist fetal probes, radiofrequency puncture generators)
  • Clinical roles and staff posts
  • Staff training and conference attendance
  • Scientific research projects
  • Ward resources and patient toys
  • Family accommodation and support services
  • Welcome packs and practical support for families

Recent funded projects include:

  • Over £335,000 to The Sick Children's Trust for Eckersley House family accommodation
  • Vein Viewer Flex technology
  • Baby MRI Pod
  • Specialist cardiac equipment for complex heart procedures

What They Don't Fund

While CHSF's funding guidelines are broad, there are geographic and scope limitations:

  • Projects outside Yorkshire, the Humber, North East Lincolnshire, and North Derbyshire
  • Projects not directly supporting patients with congenital heart disease
  • Projects not connected to the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit or regional CHD network
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Governance and Leadership

Current Leadership

Ruth (CEO from December 2024): Ruth joined CHSF from her role as CEO of Behind Closed Doors, which she led since January 2021. She has 10 years of experience in the refugee and migrant sector and currently chairs the Domestic Abuse Voice & Accountability Forum in Leeds and serves as independent co-Chair of the West Yorkshire Police Scrutiny Panel into Violent Crimes. On her appointment, Ruth stated: "I'm excited to be joining the team at Children's Heart Surgery Fund in December."

Kate Hainsworth (Interim CEO, 2024): Kate served as Interim CEO during the recruitment process and brought extensive charity leadership experience from her roles at Leeds Community Foundation and GiveBradford. She emphasized: "As Interim CEO, I've been so impressed by what the charity has achieved, and also the determination of the team and trustees to push through their personal experiences of stress to deliver what is needed for these families and children facing the worst times in their lives."

Board of Trustees

The board comprises clinical staff from the Heart Unit (including pioneering medical experts), parents, and business leaders. Known trustees include:

  • Matthew Fidler: Founding Partner of boutique commercial law firm Tyr

No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The board meets regularly to review major funding requests.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Complete the online application form at https://chsf.org.uk/apply-for-funding/
  2. If applying from Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, notify your manager/senior member of staff (CHSF will contact them for references and further information)
  3. Answer all questions completely - incomplete applications will not be considered
  4. Be prepared to attend a brief meeting to discuss your project if requested

Decision Timeline

The decision timeline varies significantly based on project size and complexity:

  • Smaller grants (up to £5,000): Faster review by CEO
  • Medium grants (£5,000-£10,000): Finance Sub-Committee review
  • Large grants (£10,000+): Full Board of Trustees consideration

Important: Apply as far in advance as possible. For large equipment or projects, it can take up to 12 months to raise funds once applications have been approved. The charity must fundraise for approved projects before releasing grant funds.

Post-Award Requirements

Grant recipients must:

  • Provide feedback and an impact report within 6 months of receiving the grant
  • Demonstrate how the funding directly supported people with congenital heart disease

Success Rates

Specific success rate data is not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication restrictions were mentioned in available materials.

Application Success Factors

Direct Guidance from CHSF

CHSF aims to make the application process “as simple as possible, understanding that applying for grants can be time-consuming.” The charity emphasizes:

  • Geographic connection: Projects must serve the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit catchment area (Yorkshire, Humber, North East Lincolnshire, North Derbyshire)
  • Direct patient benefit: All funded projects must directly support people with congenital heart disease
  • Complete applications: Incomplete applications will not be considered
  • Advance planning: Apply well ahead of need, especially for large equipment requiring fundraising time

Recent Success Stories

The charity has funded diverse projects demonstrating the breadth of what “directly supporting CHD patients” means:

  • Medical technology: Cutting-edge diagnostic and treatment equipment
  • Family support infrastructure: Accommodation allowing parents to stay near hospitalized children
  • Patient experience: Welcome packs with toiletries, food vouchers, and contact information for family support workers
  • Clinical capacity: New clinical roles and staff training
  • Patient comfort: Every child undergoing open heart surgery receives a Katie Bear teddy, certificate, and medal

Language and Terminology

CHSF's vision statement provides useful framing: “Empowered lives for everyone born with congenital heart disease in our region”

The charity emphasizes:

  • Regional focus and connection to Leeds
  • Whole-life approach (babies through adults)
  • Holistic support (clinical, practical, and emotional)
  • Partnership with NHS services

Kate Hainsworth's Strategic Perspective

Kate noted the importance of discussing NHS resilience and called for “a fully national debate about what we want from the NHS, and how charities like CHSF and the very many others that work in the medical space can and should enhance that offering.” This suggests successful applications should position projects as enhancing (not replacing) NHS provision.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Geographic specificity is essential: You must demonstrate clear connection to Leeds Congenital Heart Unit and the regional CHD network in Yorkshire/Humberside
  2. Direct patient benefit is the key criterion: Everything funded must directly support people with congenital heart disease - be explicit about this connection
  3. Plan far ahead for large projects: The 12-month fundraising timeline for major equipment means applying early is critical
  4. Tiered decision-making: Understand which review level your grant falls into (CEO/Finance Sub-Committee/Board) and tailor your approach accordingly
  5. Emphasize NHS enhancement: Position projects as enhancing existing NHS provision and supporting clinical excellence
  6. Think broadly about “support”: Successful projects range from high-tech medical equipment to welcome packs - anything directly benefiting CHD patients is eligible
  7. Build the relationship: Contact Katherine Lodge at info@chsf.org.uk before applying to discuss your project and ensure it aligns with CHSF priorities

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