About Heartbeat
I’m currently working in the fundraising team at Heartbeat, a self-funded cardiac rehabilitation charity based in Preston. I recently took part in the CVS course and really enjoyed meeting a wide range of people from different charities and GP settings. It was great to share ideas, learn from others and hear how different groups are supporting the community in their own ways.
How did Heartbeat engage with Community CVS?
I engaged fully with Community CVS by attending every session, taking part in the group work and interactive activities and really embracing the opportunity to step outside my comfort zone – especially when it came to presenting. I particularly enjoyed learning from Nasrullah, whose wealth of experience and insight made the sessions both inspiring and practical.
How did Community CVS help Heartbeat?
Community CVS helped me grow in confidence, particularly around networking, presenting and sharing ideas with others. It gave me valuable insight into how different community groups and services operate, which will help strengthen future partnerships for Heartbeat.
It also taught me that everyone is different and that it’s important to tailor my leadership style accordingly, a lesson I’ll take forward both professionally and personally. The course really encouraged me to think more strategically about our impact and how we engage with our local community.
What impact did this assistance have?
The support from Community CVS has had a really positive impact on both me and my work. It’s taught me how to communicate more effectively with different types of people and to appreciate that everyone works and responds in different ways. I’ve also learned how to use tools like ChatGPT more effectively, which has already helped streamline my work.
On a personal level, I’ve gained insight into my own working style and recognised the importance of slowing down and not putting so much pressure on myself.
As a result of the course, I’ve now progressed onto the CMI Level 5 qualification, which I’m really looking forward to completing and applying in my role to help make a greater impact at Heartbeat.
