Brighton student helps Sussex Heart Charity launch new heart support group

Heart to Heart offers a welcoming place for anyone living with or affected by a heart condition, including friends and family, to meet others with shared experiences, talk openly about life after cardiac rehabilitation and access support from people who understand what they are going through.

Having worked in cardiac care since qualifying as a nurse in 2001, Martina McGuire had seen the impact a heart condition can have on people long after their formal cardiac rehabilitation had ended. Her interest in what happens next led her to study Health Promotion at the University of Brighton, where a 65-hour community placement with the Sussex Heart Charity gave her the opportunity to explore the gap in support and work with people with lived experience to develop Heart to Heart.

The programme brings people together to share experiences, chat informally and hear from guest speakers about different aspects of living with a heart condition.

The first two pilot meetings have received a positive response, with attendees highlighting how helpful it was to talk to people with similar experiences and have a relaxed space to chat. Feedback also highlighted the need for ongoing emotional and psychological support.

Martina McGuire

The next session, on Tuesday 27 October, will feature a Wellbeing Practitioner from the Brighton & Hove Wellbeing Service, focusing on the emotional impact of living with a heart condition. The group plans to hold regular meetings, generally around every six weeks, although the frequency will remain flexible.

Martina said: “Piloting the first two sessions and seeing the response from patients, families and friends has been incredibly rewarding. A cardiac event can leave people feeling vulnerable and isolated, and the group provides a space where people can seek support, share experiences, offer advice, or simply talk to someone who understands.”

More than eight million people in the UK are currently living with cardiovascular disease, and for many, managing a heart condition extends well beyond formal medical treatment and rehabilitation.

Matt Denison, Chief Executive of the Sussex Heart Charity said: “Heart to Heart was created because we know that having a cardiac event or living with a heart condition can be a life-changing experience and having the opportunity to connect with others who understand what you’re going through can make a real difference. We hope the group will provide a supportive and friendly space where people can come together for a chat and a cuppa to share their experiences, build confidence and most importantly to know they are not alone.

“Heart to Heart wouldn’t have existed without Martina’s hard work and commitment. As part of her Health Promotion Master’s community placement, Martina helped turn the idea into something real, bringing her knowledge, enthusiasm, and dedication to getting the group established. We are incredibly grateful to her and to the University for their support, and we hope Heart to Heart will continue to grow and become a lasting source of support for heart patients in our community.”

Founded in Brighton in 1987, the Sussex Heart Charity has spent almost 40 years working to improve the lives of people with heart conditions across Sussex. It has supported the development of cardiac care, research and training, as well as community initiatives aimed at helping people recognise and respond to cardiac emergencies.

Heart to Heart is the latest part of that work, recognising that supporting people affected by heart conditions is about more than medical treatment alone.

Martina’s involvement with Heart to Heart began through her Master’s at the University of Brighton, where her community placement gave her the opportunity to put her professional experience in cardiac care into practice beyond a clinical setting.

Having worked in cardiac care since qualifying as a nurse in 2001, Martina chose to work with the Sussex Heart Charity because of her interest in extending support for people affected by heart conditions beyond formal cardiac rehabilitation. 

Martina said: “I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved through Heart to Heart. My Community Placement module provided the perfect opportunity to bring together my professional experience, the expertise and, most importantly, the lived experience of people affected by heart conditions.

“The support and guidance I received from the University throughout my placement was invaluable. The placement gave me the time and opportunity to dedicate 65 hours to exploring the needs of our local community, working alongside the Sussex Heart Charity, developing the group, and bringing together people with lived experience to help shape what Heart to Heart could become.

“Although my University placement has now finished, I have registered as a volunteer with the Sussex Heart Charity because I am passionate about seeing Heart to Heart develop and reach more people in our community. This has been a fantastic example of how university learning, professional experience, charity support, and community involvement can come together to create something meaningful and sustainable.”

What began through a University placement has now developed into an ongoing community initiative, with the Sussex Heart Charity continuing to lead Heart to Heart and Martina remaining involved as a volunteer. Together, they hope the group will provide a lasting source of connection and support for people affected by heart conditions beyond formal cardiac rehabilitation.

Heart to Heart is free to attend and is open to anyone affected by a heart condition. Meetings are held in the Brighton area, with venues, days and times varying. People can join the Sussex Heart Charity mailing list to receive updates about future meetings, with no commitment to attend every session.