The statement below was presented at the Hearts & Souls AGM held on 24th September 2025
Chairman’s Statement:
This time last year the charity was at a crossroads following the retirement of then secretary Stuart Jaggard and the notice given by John Whitworth of his intention to stand down as treasurer at the end of this year, potentially leaving just myself on the executive committee. However, at the last AGM we welcomed both Tim Clarke and Andrew Joseph-Green as trustees to fill some of the gaps naturally vacated over the past few years which has revived the charity at a time where we are seeing a renewed demand on our funds from the Buckinghamshire healthcare trust coronary rehabilitation unit, including the purchase of various equipment and funding towards staff training to keep up to date with current practices.
The changeover of the charity trustees leaves us low on numbers as we look to build for the future and we are urgently seeking one or more to join the Executive Committee, in particular to help with communications, marketing, the website, social media as well as organising fund raising events and general administration. If you have any particular professional expertise that might help us, please let us know.
Over the past year we have remained financially healthy mainly due a to good reserve and steady income through donations, but a new long term commitment agreed in principle over the next two years will deplete current assets and exceed current income levels prompting seeking new additional income sources possibly through grant applications and/or restarting charity led fund raising activities for the first time since pre-COVID.
One of my stated intentions when I was first invited to join the committee was to improve Hearts & Souls profile within the community, to make it a name local people recognise and consider when looking for a charity to support. With this in mind we made our debut at a local community fete which gave us the opportunity to meet and inform people of our work and recently we have been increasing social media presence.
As previously stated, John has given notice to stand down after this meeting as the treasurer after over 10 years of loyal service; I wish to pass on my personal thanks for his dedication which will have benefited many patients over this period. In his place we welcome John Wilkinson who has agreed to take over the treasurer duties fulfilling this vital role so the charity may continue to provide excellent support to the rehab unit with who we continue share a good close working relationship.
As always, we remain grateful to our many benefactors for their generous donations, without who over the last few years Hearts & Souls would have cease to function and provide funding as well as it has post COVID.
I look forward to the next year with optimism, where Hearts & Souls can emulate past acclaimed success that has been enjoyed since our formation over 28 years ago.
Peter Jemmett
September 2025
