British Naturism named British Heart Foundation (BHF), as our Charity of the Year in 2020 and will continue to work with them throughout 2023, raising funds and awareness.
Fine out more about our fundraising Naked Heart Walks!
The health and well-being benefits of a nude lifestyle are well-known to Naturists and the BHF also place emphasis on healthy living and lifelong wellbeing, so our relationship is a natural fit. We’re delighted to be able to raise money that will directly benefit the population and combat diseases that could affect any of us.
We’ll also be encouraging members, groups and clubs to get behind the initiative and put on fund-raising events. There will be a lot of support from us and BHF both in terms of how to put on an event and deal with the fundraising aspects.
READY TO DONATE? Here's our Just Giving Page
Want to get involved?
If you are new to social nudity we have plenty of help and information for you - follow these links:
Information for, and stories from Women in Naturism
On this page you will find all the information you need to get involved…and if you don’t, please let us know! We’ll be pleased to help you!
How will British Naturism be raising money for British Heart Foundation?
British Naturism are working with the British Heart Foundation to raise funds from specific fundraising activities and donations at many events.
BN and BHF are working together on a programme of Naked Heart Walks - clothes-optional sponsored walks in fabulous locations - and on the Great British Skinny Dip, a campaign that BN has promoted for several years.
Working together we can give these events a charitable focus and encourage organisers to take the opportunity to fundraise while also encouraging those new to social nudity to take part and raise funds for such a worthy cause that affects so many people. In doing so we hope to raise the profile, encourage more people to take part in social nudity and raise more funds for the BHF.
BN will also promote volunteering opportunities that the BHF have available and support and promote any campaigns where possible to help raise the profile of both BN and BHF across the country, including where non-nude attendance is being requested.
Who are the British Heart Foundation?
The BHF is the UKs leading cardiovascular research charity. Their vision is a world free from the fear of heart and circulatory diseases. The BHF raise money to research cures and treatments, so they can beat heartbreak forever. You can read all about the BHFs research and how they have changed the state of heart disease already, but there is still so much more to do.
The BHF also fund a Nation of Life Savers Campaign to ensure that all children leave school with the skills and confidence to save a life in the event they witness a cardiac arrest. Funding CPR training kits to all secondary schools this has been a key focus enabling schools to deliver the training regularly and widely with ease.
The BHF has a heart helpline staffed by expert cardiac nurses to offer support, information and signposting to those affected by heart disease and their loved ones. For medical enquiries you can call 0300 3303311.
There is a huge resource of information leaflets and guides about all aspects of CHD from stroke to diabetes, to giving up smoking and how to reduce stress and specific heart conditions patients may want more information about.
What is the Great British Skinny Dip and can I use it for a fun raising event?
The Great British Skinny Dip (GBSD) is a British Naturism campaign that is now in its 9th year. Every year this great event provides lots of opportunities for people to try costume-free swimming across many varied locations throughout the UK.
This year we are encouraging people to organise a GBSD event in aid of the British Heart Foundation as part of our partnership to promote heart health and well being and raise funds for the vital research to help beat heartbreak for good. Funds can be easily raised through ticket sales, raffles and donations, and swimmers can also have the opportunity to swim a distance in the nude and ask friends and family to sponsor them.
Can I organise my own fundraising event?
Of course! Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Organise a Great British Skinny Dip at a beach or your local pool. There is lots of information and a how-to guide here on the website
- Host a Naked Dining event. Ask a local pub or restaurant if you can host a event and agree a date and fee per meal. Add approximately 25-50% on to this fee as a donation to the BHF and sell tickets. Create a poster using BHF downloads or make your own using the BHF ‘In aid of’ logo and promote to your networks and the BN community. Arrange a raffle on the evening by asking local companies to donate a prize.
- Organise a nude or clothes optional sponsored walk. BHF have a ‘Just Walk’ fundraising pack you can register for.
- Hold an open day at your club or an open session at your swim and charge visitors an entrance with 25-50% going to BHF.
If you’d love to get involved with fundraising but aren’t sure where to start please get in touch with Ben Bishop (bishopb@bhf.org.uk), our dedicated BHF fundraising contact. He will be happy to chat through ideas with you!
What fundraising support and materials are available to me?
For fundraising ideas and to get a general BHF fundraising pack you can visit the BHF website and sign up to receive one in the post here: https://www.bhf.org.uk/how-you-can-help/fundraise/do-your-own-fundraising. The pack includes a general guide, stickers, a card collection box and posters.
A new, separate fundraising kit for the Great British Skinny Dip, along with customisable posters, and a variety of useful downloads to show your support or participation are available from the Great British Skinny Dip website.
For additional fundraising materials including tins and buckets, t-shirts, balloons, bunting, pin badges or for a letter of authorisation (to confirm your fundraising intentions) you can either contact your local fundraising manager or contact the BHF fundraising support team on 0300 3303322 or email heretohelp@bhf.org.uk.