Exercise Rehabilitation Association Limited
Charity 518586
Overview
Summary
Exercise Rehabilitation Association Limited, operating publicly as Action Heart, appears to occupy a focused position between clinical cardiac care and longer-term prevention. Its purpose is not only to support people already diagnosed with cardiac disease, but also to use exercise as a route to rehabilitation, prevention and potentially research. The organisation’s origins and stated focus suggest a strong connection to the Dudley hospital system, while its objects leave scope for wider support beyond that locality.
Operational geography
Coverage: Regional
Operational areas:
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Remaining uncertainties
- Direct evidence from the trustees' report for the year ended 31 March 2025 states that Action Heart's core cardiovascular rehabilitation programme receives referrals from certain catchment areas within the Birmingham health economy. However, it does not identify any Birmingham wards, neighbourhoods, venues or outreach delivery locations.
- The organisation's current physical clinical base is the Action Heart Centre at Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley; its registered office is in Kingswinford. Neither is within Birmingham.
- It is therefore reasonable to interpret Action Heart as a Dudley-based clinical service with a wider regional referral catchment, including parts of Birmingham, rather than as an organisation delivering services from identified sites within Birmingham or operating citywide across Birmingham.
- The available evidence does not show which Birmingham catchment areas refer patients, whether Birmingham residents receive any service other than at the Dudley centre, or whether the organisation currently undertakes Birmingham-based partnership, outreach or community activity.
Additional evidence needed
- A current referral-pathway or service specification identifying the Birmingham GP practices, neighbourhoods or wards covered by Action Heart.
- Confirmation from Action Heart, the Black Country Integrated Care Board, or relevant Birmingham commissioners of any current Birmingham-based delivery, outreach, clinic, exercise programme or partner venue.
- A current activity or impact report showing patients served by local authority area and whether services are delivered remotely or at sites beyond Russells Hall Hospital.
Areas of work
- The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives
Who they help
- Elderly/old People
- Other Defined Groups
- People With Disabilities
How they help
- Provides Advocacy/advice/information
- Provides Human Resources
- Provides Services
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
Exercise is the organisation’s central mechanism, not an added activity
The available evidence suggests that exercise is treated as a core method for cardiac rehabilitation and heart-disease prevention, rather than simply a general wellbeing offer.
Why it matters
This distinguishes the organisation from broader health charities and indicates a potentially specialised role at the intersection of clinical recovery, physical activity and prevention.
Show evidence
“The objects include rehabilitation of cardiac disease patients through an exercise programme at Russells Hall Hospital.”
Source:Charity Commission“Activities include rehabilitation of people diagnosed with cardiac disease and promotion of heart-disease prevention, in particular by exercise.”
Source:Charity Commission
The organisation appears to bridge hospital care and community-facing support
Its stated provision of equipment, premises, money, services and human resources may indicate an enabling role around cardiac rehabilitation, rather than operating solely as a direct service provider.
Why it matters
This raises the possibility that its value lies partly in strengthening rehabilitation capacity within local health infrastructure and supporting patients beyond a single intervention.
Show evidence
“The objects include providing equipment, premises and monies to assist hospitals in rehabilitation of cardiac disease patients.”
Source:Charity Commission“The charity provides human resources, services and advocacy, advice or information.”
Source:Charity Commission
Dudley is a clear anchor, but the intended reach may be wider
The organisation appears rooted in the Russells Hall Hospital and Dudley area, while its objects explicitly permit assistance to hospitals elsewhere. This may reflect a locally grounded model with potential for wider influence.
Why it matters
Understanding whether the charity remains primarily place-based or has developed broader partnerships would clarify its role in the regional cardiac-rehabilitation landscape.
Show evidence
“The exercise programme is described as being held at Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley, West Midlands.”
Source:Charity Commission“The objects include assisting hospitals in the Dudley area and elsewhere.”
Source:Charity Commission
- Whether rehabilitation is delivered directly by the charity, through hospital partners, or both.
- Which cardiac conditions and patient groups are currently reached, and at what scale.
- Whether the research objective remains an active part of current work.
- How the public-facing name Action Heart relates operationally to the registered charity.
Remaining uncertainties
- Current programme descriptions, referral pathways and delivery locations.
- Annual reports or accounts showing expenditure, staffing, partnerships and beneficiary numbers.
- Evidence of current relationships with Russells Hall Hospital, NHS services, community exercise providers and research partners.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
The rehabilitation of people diagnosed with cardiac disease and associated conditions. The promotion of the prevention of heart disease, in particular by exercise.
Charity objects
THE COMPANY'S OBJECTS ARE:- (1) THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE CARE OF CARDIAC DISEASE PATIENTS IN PARTICULAR BY THE REHABILITATION EXERCISE PROGRAMME CURRENTLY BEING HELD AT THE RUSSELLS HALL HOSPITAL, DUDLEY, WEST MIDLANDS. (2) THE PROVISION OF EQUIPMENT, PREMISES, AND MONIES TO ASSIST HOSPITALS IN THE DUDLEY AREA AND ELSEWHERE IN THE REHABILITATION OF CARDIAC DISEASE PATIENTS. (3) THE PROMOTION AND ASSISTANCE OF RESEARCH INTO CARDIO- RESPIRATORY DISEASES, AND THE TREATMENT THEREOF IN PARTICULAR BY EXERCISE. (FOR FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE SEE CLAUSE 3(A) 4 TO 6 OF AMENDING RESOLUTION).