Brighton & Sussex Take Heart Group – Providing Cardiac Rehab Exercise in Sussex for 25 years!

About BSTHG

The Brighton & Sussex Take Heart Group (BSTHG) is a patient led cardiac support group which was set up in 1993 and now has over 400 members. The group was established in order to provide ongoing support and exercise to cardiac patients who have completed the cardiac rehabilitation programme at the Royal Sussex County Hospital.

It is run by a committee of volunteers and the current committee includes former cardiac patients, an exercise instructor and a registered nurse. Our President is Consultant Cardiologist Dr James Cockburn BSc MD MRCP.

Brighton Take Heart Group employs three British Association of Cardiac Rehabilitation (BACR) Phase 4 instructors and they provide exercise classes in Peacehaven, Preston Park, Portslade


BSTHG Committee Members

The group is managed by a committee of volunteers drawn from the membership who meet regularly to look after the administration, publicity and finance of the group. This also includes the quartery magagazine and arranging of a programme of sporting, social and fundraising activities throughout the year.

PresidentDr James Cockburn BSc, M.D. MRCP
Chairman & TreasurerDavid Chappell
Chief FundraiserKevin Herriot
Editorial Board MemberMorris Baker
Magazine Design EditorRod Fisher

All committee members are individually committing to:

  • upholding the values and objectives of the organisation;
  • giving adequate time and energy to the duties of being a trustee; and
  • acting with integrity and avoiding or declaring personal conflicts of interest.

Vacancies & Volunteering. If you are interested in joining the committee and would like more information please contact us.

BSTHG Constitution 2016 (PDF)

How do I become a member?

On completion of the cardiac rehabilitation programme at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, you will be given details of joining the group. If you have not been through the programme or attended in the past, you can ask your GP to refer you. As well as the annual membership fee there is a charge for each exercise session. If you are interested in becoming a member then please contact us or come along and see us in action at one of our exercise sessions.

Where can I meet the group?

We welcome you to exercise with us at one of our Brighton Take Heart Groups sessions at the most convenient venue for you. We have sessions at a number of venues and look forward to seeing you at one of them.

What else does the group offer?

We have a recreational swimming section and twice a year quiz nights. Other events are a Shuffleboard Tournament, a Choral Concert, and visits to places of interest such as Buckingham Place and Portsmouth Dickensian Christmas Market. Carers and relatives of cardiac patients are also able to become members of the group and to attend exercise classes.

take heart logo

Membership Renewal

Membership is due on 1st April

The annual membership subscription is £20 per person. Please fill out the form below for Membership subscription renewal and bring your payment together with the form to any keep fit exercise class.

BSTHG membership renewal form (PDF)

New Membership Application

If you wish to join our group you can fill out the form below or drop-in to one of our classes and see us!

BSTHG membership application (PDF)

Our endorsements. Affiliated to the British Heart Foundation