Thanks to the Think Tank!

Our Young People's Outreach Officer Rory Miller (that's him on the far right in the photo) reports from the latest BHF Teen Think Tank, held in Manchester...

"The Think Tank was attended by 16 young people plus their parents, and we were joining for the first time with the Hearts4Teens Group, a cardiac youth group for young people with heart conditions based in north-west England.

"The Think Tank is made up of young people with heart conditions within the UK, and we meet up twice a year to discuss ideas and get feedback and advice on our projects for young people. Their contribution is invaluable to the work the BHF does for teenagers with a heart condition.

"Many of the young people who came along have known each other for a while now, so it was a good chance for them to catch up and share stories about what they had been up to.

"It was also a good chance for their parents to meet and talk with each other. For many of them, this is the first time they speak to another parent of a child with a heart condition.

"Our weekend included a guided tour of the City of Manchester Stadium. Even if your footballing allegiances lie elsewhere, you couldn’t help but be impressed by the stadium. I certainly was, and it's a far cry from my own team Luton Town's ground!

"It was a busy but extremely fun two days, and the young people we met gave us great feedback which we'll use to improve our websites, factsheets and information for young people with heart conditions."

The Think Tank runs twice a year and visits various parts of the UK.

If you're aged 13-19 with a heart condition and want more information please visit yheart.net/meet or email meetatteenheart@bhf.org.uk

Cameras drop in at BHF HQ

A TV crew from the BBC paid BHF a visit yesterday to film one of our Speak Up workshops.

The cameras are following Hannah Jones for a documentary which will air later this year.

At the age of four, was diagnosed with leukaemia, and the medication gave her a life threatening heart condition.

Last year, aged 12, Hannah was told she would die unless she had heart transplant. But, tired of a life of invasive medical attention, she refused the operation and asked to be allowed to live her life, however long that may be.

The Hannah Jones Documentary follows Hannah's journey since her decision, as she takes her first steps to live her life despite having a terminal heart condition.

Yesterday was the first time she'd met other young people with heart conditions. After a series of games and activities at the workshop, which gave everyone a lot to think about, the day was completed with a fun trip to the London Eye.

Watch this space for more information about when the documentary will air.

Speak Up is our fun one-day workshop for young people aged between 13 and 19 who are living with heart conditions. As well as finding out how to feel more confident and communicate with others, participants learn how to talk to others about their condition in a supportive and creative way.

The Speak Up workshop is part of Meet@TeenHeart - our project for young people with heart conditions. Check out the Meet@TeenHeart website yheart.net/meet for more information or contact Sarah Ashton at ashtons@bhf.org.uk