Heart disease can often be prevented by making the right lifestyle choices so our volunteers help to educate children and adults.

Healthy Heart talks in schools

Our dedicated volunteer speakers visit primary schools in their area to give Healthy Heart talks to Year 5 children. These talks last about 30 minutes and cover:

• The heart and how it works
• The 3 steps to a healthy heart
• Eating a healthy diet
• Being active
• Saying no to smoking

We provide FREE colourful activity sheets, stickers and balloons for each child.

We currently have trained speakers based in Leeds, Harrogate, Blackburn, Chorley, Nottingham, Burton-on-Trent, Tamworth, Basingstoke, Walton-on-Thames, Bristol, Swansea and Penzance, with many more training sessions planned in other parts of the country.  We provide free training, resources and support for all our speakers.

If you are a teacher, parent or carer and would be interested in our Healthy Heart Talks at your school, or if you would like to find out more about becoming a volunteer speaker please contact us.

Talks to adult groups

Some of our speakers give Healthy Heart talks to adult groups covering how to keep a healthy heart, the history of Heart Research UK and our pioneering medical research.

If you are a speaker finder or think your group would enjoy a visit from HRUK please contact us on 0113 2976206.

Some of our volunteer speakers share their stories

Dorothy, a retired nurse with two grown up children, became a volunteer speaker because she is very keen to educate people about how heart disease can be prevented. She says, “I have a strong family history of heart disease so it is very dear to my heart”.

Janet, a nursery nurse with two young children, has always tried to make healthy choices as part of family life. She wanted to learn more about heart research and is now one of our experienced and popular schools speakers.

Angus, a bank worker based in Edinburgh, comes from a family with a history of heart problems, "Everyone in my mother's family had chronic heart conditions and a lot of that was very much to do with lifestyle and diet as well as hereditary factors.  I am a firm believer in healthy living and want to support HRUK by giving adult talks and spreading the charity's Healthy Heart message."

For more information contact Heart Research UK's Lifestyle Officer on 0113 297 6206 or email lifestyle@heartresearch.org.uk