Charity and Voluntary Sector

BHF: The menopause may have nothing to do with a women’s increased heart attack risk, according to new research. It’s widely understood that a women’s risk of dying from heart or circulatory disease rises sharply after menopause because of hormonal changes.  But a new study suggests heart disease mortality rates in women increase with age and are unaffected by the menopause specifically.
Press release & links
 
CO: A new £10m fund to find & back innovative new ideas for increasing volunteering and charitable giving was opened last week by Nick Hurd, Minister for Civil Society. The Innovation in Giving Fund was announced in the Giving White Paper published in May and forms part of a £34m package to increase levels of social action.
 
The Innovation in Giving Fund will be managed by the National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts (NESTA). They are asking applicants to submit a short video elevator pitch alongside their application form, the best will then be invited to present to a panel for the final decision.  The deadline for applications is 14 October 2011 and videos will be published publicly.
Press release & links
 
BHF: A new drug has been identified by scientists that could potentially treat or prevent heart failure. Research shows injecting SUMO1 into failing hearts could help improve the way the heart muscle functions. Scientists behind the research say SUMO1 plays a critical role in the development of heart failure.
 
Professor Jeremy Pearson, British Heart Foundation Associate Medical Director, said: “Our Mending Broken Hearts appeal aims to spend £50m so we can further investigate regenerative medicine and find a way to prevent heart failure, which affects more than 750,000 people in the UK.”
Press release & links
 
WAG: Projects across Wales have received a total of £100,000 from the Welsh Government to help improve the health of some of the most disadvantaged people in Africa. 11 projects have been awarded funding in the latest round of grants under the Welsh Government’s Wales 4 Africa Health Links scheme, launched in 2006.
Press release & links
 
HO: The £5m Innovation fund, which is designed to bring together active citizens and encourage new & creative ways of working to tackle crime, is now open for bids from voluntary & community groups.
Press release & links
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