Hearts & Minds Support Group

A self-help group that helps patients and carers face the future and part of the British Heart Foundation Independent Group Network

Next meeting: Wednesday 7th October 2026


We will be having a social night with entertainment. Steve and Adam will be hosting some Bingo and Steves' Son Andrew and his dance partner Louise will be giving some Strictly Dance inspired entertainment.


Meeting Venue: Steeple View Memorial Hall, Willowfields, Laindon, Basildon, Essex, SS15 4EQ

Our meetings are held on the first Wednesday of the month (except August) and start at 7.30pm


Hearts & Minds' Objectives

  1. To increase awareness of heart disease, its causes, treatments, implications and help available.
  2. To provide social and personal contact with people who share and understand their needs and problems.
  3. To liaise with existing groups, organizations and institutions in this and related fields.
  4. To promote and provide support on aftercare for patients, partners, and carers when resuming home and social life.

Hearts & Minds is a self-funding and voluntary group, which was started by people with heart problems so that they can offer support and information to others in the Basildon & District area who are suffering from heart conditions. These problems include angina, heart attack and other heart related issues.

As heart disease has a tremendous impact on an individual’s whole family, Hearts & Minds objectives encompass those who care for the sufferer too. Someone who has experienced problems with their heart is undoubtedly in a good position to offer comfort and hope to those who are suffering from heart related illnesses and Hearts Minds have members who can be contacted by anyone needing help to come to terms with their illness.

 

There are many fears and worries experienced by people with heart disease and heart related illnesses. Sharing these with others helps to lessen the load. Hearts & Minds hold regular meetings where members can share problems and experiences.

 

We have speakers who give interesting and informative talks related not only to heart disease but on a number of topical and social subjects. Membership of the group is free so that anyone who needs our help and support can join us.

Membership

Latest News

British Heart Foundation Update
We are sharing an update from the BHF where they are asking for support. They have said:

Put heart research in the spotlight

From the lightbulb moment to the lifesaving treatment, heart research transforms lives. Add your name to our open letter to support future breakthroughs.


Our Hearts Need More Breakthroughs


We are calling on the new Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds, to help unlock the power of cardiovascular research by making it a  national research priority.


This means supporting the talented researchers who drive cardiovascular discovery and innovation. It also means driving focus and investment in the research needed to help deliver the Government's ambition of reducing premature deaths from heart attack and stroke by 25% in the next decade.


BHF-funded research has helped transform heart care, and continues to unlock new opportunities to prevent, diagnose and treat cardiovascular disease (CVD). But too many people are still living with or at risk of CVD, which causes a quarter of all UK deaths – one death every three minutes.


The UK Government has committed to improve cardiovascular care, but crucial to this will be realising the full potential of cardiovascular research, accelerating the development of lifesaving treatments and innovations that can improve and save lives for generations to come.


Our hearts need more breakthroughs.  To turn scientific discoveries into better outcomes for patients, we need the UK Government to put cardiovascular research in the spotlight.


Please sign our open letter today - click on the link below:

Add your name


So please support the BHF 


Online Skills

One of the areas that the pandemic has highlighted is the need to provide more support and training for online activities, whether that be work related, leisure related or as mentioned above, being able to access health care.

 

There are a quite a few initiatives out there now that are free to access. Below are a couple of links that you may find useful as starting points.


British Heart Foundation - Heart Matters

Some of you already subscribe to this excellent newsletter. If you would like to subscribe (it’s free) the link for signing up can be found at https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-subscribe


It has some really useful and informative articles, for example in this month’s edition are a list of the 10 most healthy breakfast cereals. (Porridge without added salt or sugar is the best).