British Heart Foundation and Calon Hearts are Wales & West Housing Group’s 2026-27 staff charities

Two of the UK’s leading heart charities will benefit from staff fundraising at Wales & West Housing Group over the next two years.

The British Heart Foundation and Calon Hearts have been chosen as the company’s staff charities for 2026-27.

Both charities were nominated by staff and selected following a vote by colleagues across the Wales & West Housing Group.

All proceeds from staff fundraising activities over the next two years will be split equally between both charities.

Diane Barnes, Admin & Facilities Manager, coordinates staff charity fundraising for the Wales & West Housing Group.

She said: “We are thrilled to announce British Heart Foundation and Calon Hearts as our staff charities for 2026 and 2027.

“We are proud that the charities are nominated and selected by staff following a vote. Many colleagues will have been touched by the amazing work which these charities do in our communities, and we will put all of our efforts into raising as much money as we can for them over the next two years.

“We are incredibly lucky that Wales & West Housing staff give so generously year after year, raising £64,000 for our previous staff charities, and I’m sure it will be no different on this occasion.”

Funds for the charities are expected to come from a range of activities including Wales & West Housing Group’s staff lottery and sponsored events such as walks, runs, bike rides, creative challenges and baking challenges, as in previous years.

Sarah Thomas, Fundraising Manager at British Heart Foundation (BHF) Cymru said: “We’re delighted to be one of the chosen charities at Wales & West Housing Group for 2026 and 2027.

“Our team is on a mission to give everyone a healthier heart for longer, and the support generated through charity partnership makes a huge difference to our efforts.

“We wish the team at Wales & West Housing Group the best of luck on their fundraising journey, and we are incredibly grateful for their support.”

Sharon Owen, Founder and Chief Executive of Calon Hearts, said: “We’re incredibly honoured to have been chosen as one of Wales & West Housing Group’s staff charities for the next two years.

“Behind every heart screening, every defibrillator and every CPR training session is the chance to save a life and spare another family the heartbreak of losing someone they love far too soon.

“We know how passionate Wales & West Housing Group staff are about supporting good causes, and we’re truly grateful that they’ve chosen to support Calon Hearts.

“Their fundraising will help us continue our mission of preventing sudden cardiac deaths with life-saving heart screenings, CPR training and placing defibrillators in communities across Wales – they will ultimately, help us save lives and that’s amazing.”

In the last two-year cycle of staff charity fundraising in 2024-25, staff raised £64,000 which was split equally between MND Association, Cymru Arthritis UK, Cerebral Palsy Cymru and Parkinson’s UK Cymru.