How The Money Raised Has Been Spent

Have a Heart was launched as Heart's official charity in 2009, and since then two charities have benefited from Have a Heart grants - Starlight Children's Foundation & Together For Short Lives (formerly known as Children's Hospices UK).

STARLIGHT CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION

Starlight was the beneficiary of the Have a Heart Appeal in 2010, and as a result of a grant of £400,000 from Have a Heart, they have been able to make a huge difference to the lives of seriously ill children in hospitals and hospices across the country.  The money funded 101 brand new Have a Heart Starlight Fun Centres - mobile entertainment units that give children a much needed distraction at a time when they can feel alone, isolated and scared.  The Fun Centres have been a huge success, with feedback from children, parents and nursing staff pointing to them having a real positive impact on the children when they are in hospital or in a hospice.  An example of these Starlight Fun Centres can be seen on the picture to the right.

In addition the Have a Heart grant funded over 60 magical Starlight wishes, making the dreams of seriously ill children come true.

For more information on the work of Starlight Children's Foundation, go to their website.

TOGETHER FOR SHORT LIVES (formerly known as Children's Hospices UK)

Children's Hospices UK were our most recent charity partner for Have a Heart, benefiting from our fundraising from September 2010 - August 2011.  Children's Hospices UK has recently merged with another organisation called ACT creating Together For Short Lives.  Through Have a Heart funding we wanted to help them expand the care and support their members give to seriously ill children and their parents within their own homes.

So far we have granted Together For Short Lives over £340,000, which has funded 28 new vehicles for hospices across the country (an example of these vehicles can be seen below).  Once all of the money has come in from all of our fundraising this year, we will be awarding them a further grant, which will be used to fund additional nursing hours for the at home care & support service.

For more information on their change of name click here, or visit the Together For Short Lives website.