Anne Semple, a volunteer with British Heart Foundation (BHF) Scotland, is backing its ‘Be Heart Healthy and Volunteer’ campaign this month and is encouraging people across Scotland to donate their time to the charity.

With over 270,000 people in Scotland living with heart disease , the nation’s heart charity is asking locals to volunteer and improve their wellbeing with BHF Scotland.

A former teacher, Anne has been helping BHF Scotland educate people about heart health for two years. She gives talks to schools, picks up donations and promotes physical activities such as Jump Rope For Heart and Ultimate Dodgeball at school health days and educational events.

Anne, says: “Volunteering is a great way to keep yourself busy, to help others and to feel worthwhile after retirement. I really think more retired people should volunteer with BHF Scotland.

“The charity is very good at identifying your skills and finding the most suitable role for you. And it supports you in that role.”

Volunteering can help people stay physically active, depending on what is done. Moving stock or stretching to arrange shelves in a BHF Scotland Shop, or walking around at a BHF Scotland event, as well as other volunteering opportunities, can do wonders for a sense of wellbeing.

People who volunteer report an experience known as the ‘helpers high’. This is a rush of euphoria, similar to the one experienced after physical activity and, once the initial rush is over, people are left with a lasting sense of calm. This feeling can return hours or even days later when volunteers think about what they have done.

People who take up voluntary work often feel a greater sense of purpose, and it gives them the opportunity to use some of the skills they already have or even learn a new skill.

For anyone recovering from a heart attack or heart surgery, volunteering is a good way of slowly getting back into activity before returning to work and BHF Scotland will have a role to suit everyone.

BHF Scotland has lots of different roles to suit the time people can give, from a few hours in a local BHF Scotland Shop or Furniture and Electrical store, to putting on a fundraising event to raise some money for the charity. Volunteers could become campaigners and help to deliver better heart health services in their community. Any amount of time will really make a difference to the charity.

Barbara Osborne, Head of Volunteer Fundraising for BHF Scotland says: “BHF volunteers give a contribution of time that accounts for £40m of our income every year. But their impact goes far beyond money. Without their support we simply wouldn’t be able to do the life-saving work that helps thousands of people living with heart and circulatory disease each year. Just a few hours of your time can really help so please consider volunteering for BHF Scotland and sign up today.”

To find out more about volunteering with BHF Scotland call 0300 456 8353,  email  or visit the website  .