Rotary Heartbeat House features in Rotary International Magazine!

Rotary Heartbeat House: 30 Years of Care, Comfort and Rotary Support. A Story by Dave King

On a summer afternoon in August, the rooms of Rotary Heartbeat House in Southampton were filled with conversation, laughter and the clink of teacups.  

Rotarians from across Hampshire, Dorset, and the Isle of Wight – all part of Rotary District 1110 – gathered for afternoon tea to mark their continuing partnership with Heartbeat, the charity that has been transforming lives for more than three decades. 

The spread was as warm and generous as the welcome: scones with clotted cream and jam, served by staff and volunteers who have long understood that comfort comes in many forms.  

Yet behind the tea and smiles lay a more profound story – one of community, compassion, and the vital role that Rotary has played in sustaining a place that has become a lifeline for countless families facing the toughest of journeys. 

Heartbeat House was established in 1992 as part of Heartbeat, the regional charity dedicated to supporting the Wessex Cardiac Centre at University Hospital Southampton.

Rotary Heartbeat House has become a lifeline for countless families facing the toughest of journeys. 

The centre is one of the UK’s leading facilities for the treatment of congenital and cardiovascular disease, serving patients of all ages from across the south of England and beyond. This includes supporting families in the Channel Islands, particularly on the bailiwick of Guernsey. 

For the relatives of those patients – often anxious, exhausted and far from home – the charity recognised that medical excellence alone was not enough. They needed somewhere safe, welcoming, and close to the hospital where they could stay while their loved ones underwent treatment or surgery. 

Thus, Heartbeat House was born: a “home from home” providing affordable accommodation and a supportive environment within walking distance of the hospital.  

“Rotary has been fundamental to what we do. Their support has been about more than just money.”

Over the past 30 years, it has hosted thousands of families, becoming a place of comfort at moments of crisis. Parents keeping vigil over a child undergoing heart surgery, partners awaiting news from the operating theatre, or families adjusting to the long recovery road –all have found solace within its walls. 

From the outset, Rotary has been closely linked with the charity’s mission. Clubs across District 1110 – covering Hampshire, Dorset, the Isle of Wight and parts of Wiltshire –recognised the unique value of Heartbeat House and committed themselves to helping it thrive. 

That relationship has deepened in recent years when Rotary’s sustained fundraising efforts helped finance vital refurbishments. Dozens of clubs pledged to contribute £500 annually over a three-year period, a collective commitment that generated substantial funds to modernise facilities, including the kitchen areas so essential to creating a homely environment. 

In recognition of this support, the charity proudly reinstated the name Rotary Heartbeat House, honouring the partnership that has underpinned so much of its progress. 

Rotarians from across Hampshire, Dorset, and the Isle of Wight – all part of Rotary District 1110 – gathered for afternoon tea to mark their continuing partnership with Heartbeat.

Tina Tolley, Heartbeat’s Head of Business and Donor Development, and a Rotarian herself, explains: “Rotary has been fundamental to what we do. Their support has been about more than just money.  

“It’s about people who care, people who roll up their sleeves and stand with us. That’s whythe name Rotary Heartbeat House matters so much. It’s a symbol of shared values –service, community, and compassion.” 

This summer’s event was not just a social occasion but an opportunity to look ahead. Clubs were updated on Heartbeat’s future plans, particularly its ambition to fund an extension that will enhance facilities for families and improve the long-term sustainability of the house. 

Outgoing District Governor Debbie Dunford, who has championed the cause during her year of service, helped host the afternoon, while her successor Richard Burnett pledged his continuing support.  

He emphasised the importance of widening the circle of involvement, encouraging moreclubs to join those already committed to multi-year pledges. 

“When families tell us what Heartbeat House meant to them, it’s rarely just about the room they stayed in. It’s about the comfort of knowing they were not alone, that someone cared. Rotary makes that possible.”

For Rotarians in attendance, the visit was more than a chance to hear updates. It was also a reminder of the direct impact of their contributions. Walking through the house, they could see kitchens refurbished thanks to their fund-raising, and hear stories from families who had been able to stay close to loved ones because Rotary cared enough to act. 

Statistics tell part of the story: every year hundreds of families use Rotary Heartbeat House, and over 30 years thousands have passed through its doors. But it is the personal stories that convey its true significance. 

Parents of a newborn baby awaiting lifesaving surgery. A grandparent keeping vigil while a teenager recovers from a transplant. A spouse facing the uncertainty of a partner’s major operation. For each of them, the house provides not just a bed for the night but a community of understanding. The atmosphere is deliberately homely, with shared kitchens and communal spaces designed to bring people together in mutual support. 

This ethos resonates strongly with Rotary values. Just as Rotary seeks to build community through service, Heartbeat House fosters solidarity among those who might otherwise face their ordeal in isolation. 

The partnership with Heartbeat also fits within a wider Rotary tradition of supporting health causes. From the global fight against polio to local hospital projects, Rotarians have consistently recognised the importance of healthcare as both a humanitarian priority and a practical expression of service. 

District 1110’s embrace of Heartbeat is part of this legacy. Past District Governors Paul Steele and Bill Casey were instrumental in cementing the partnership, believing in the cause and encouraging clubs to commit to long-term pledges. Their leadership ensured that the relationship was not a one-off gesture but a sustained collaboration that continues to bear fruit. 

The challenges ahead are significant. Medical advances mean more people with congenital heart conditions are living longer, creating new demands for ongoing care. At the same time, the cost of providing high-quality accommodation and maintaining facilities is rising.

Heartbeat is determined to meet these challenges. Its plans for expansion are ambitious, but the charity’s track record suggests they are achievable – especially with Rotary’s support. Fund-raising for the extension will be a major focus in the coming years, and Rotarians are once again being invited to play a central role. 

Incoming District Governor Richard Burnett has already expressed enthusiasm for continuing the pledges and encouraging wider participation. If successful, the campaign will ensure that Rotary Heartbeat House is equipped to serve future generations just as faithfully as it has served past ones. 

For Rotarians, supporting Heartbeat is not simply philanthropy; it is partnership. It is about aligning Rotary’s mission of service with a cause that touches lives in immediate and tangible ways. It is about recognising that while cutting-edge medical science saves lives, the human dimension of care – a place to rest, a space to hope, a community to lean on –is equally vital. 

As Tina Tolley reflects: “When families tell us what Heartbeat House meant to them, it’s rarely just about the room they stayed in. It’s about the comfort of knowing they were not alone, that someone cared. Rotary makes that possible.” 

For more information visit: www.heartbeat.org.uk