Charanjit Kaler 1948 - 2026
It was with great sorrow that we heard of the recent passing of long time Heartlink member Charanjit Kaler. He was known to many of us as Ken.
After having treatment for his own heart health problems, he joined Heartlink in July 2005 and became an active member. He worked regularly as a Heartlink volunteer, particularly on the reception desk for patients which Heartlink used to run in the entrance to the Level 2 Cardiac Clinic at Ealing Hospital. He often worked alongside one of our other long-standing members, Bachitar, giving helpful advice and support to patients attending the clinic for cardiac tests and checkups. He eagerly took on responsibility for ordering the British Heart Foundation booklets for patients, which continues to be a major part of our work at the Hospital and elsewhere.
Charanjit was born in Kenya but came to the UK at a young age and was educated here, before marrying and raising a family. He held several responsible jobs, including as a shop manager and in a senior position on London Underground.
Many of us were very pleased to meet up with him again only a few weeks ago at the Barsi Smagam at Northolt at the end of August. Above you can see a photo of him helping us on our stall there (He is seated in the centre of the picture).
Our thoughts and condolences go to his wife Tarlochan, and his children and grandchildren.
We were extremely touched and hugely appreciative of the gesture they made, together with many of his friends, in raising over £2,000 for Heartlink at his funeral.
He will be greatly missed by us all at Heartlink.
Great to see you Eric!
We were all very pleased to recently meet up again with our long time Heartlink member Eric. He came along to our October Community Hub session where he had both his COVID and flu vaccinations given by our friends from Chana Chemist, after meeting up with a lot of old friends and sharing a snack and a cuppa.
A few days later at our information desk at Ealing Hospital he bumped into us again whilst coming to a regular hospital appointment. This time he had travelled on his new mobility scooter, which he now uses to get around the local area.
Eric was a very active Heartlink Committee Member for many years, helping at the Hospital and attending many events in the community, until becoming limited by his health and mobility.
Walking in the rain!
A torrential downpour was not enough to deter a small group of our wonderful Wednesday walkers in mid-October. You can see from the photo above that despite the conditions they all enjoyed a local walk, And a good chat on the way, finishing with a warming drink in a café.
A Heartfelt Thank You to Inspire Dental ❤️
Opkar and Sunny had the pleasure of visiting Inspire Dental to present a Certificate of Appreciation for their kind and generous donation to our Wednesday Walkers Sponsored Walk.
We are truly grateful for their support, kindness and generosity. Their contribution helped make the day extra special, and we really appreciate you standing behind such a meaningful cause.
Thank you also for the lovely welcome and warm hospitality. It’s wonderful to have you as part of our community and together we can continue making a positive difference.
NEW: Follow Heartlink on Instagram
Heartlink Goes Digital – providing Heart Health Information
At our Annual General Meeting on 1st October, Heartlink introduced a new way of sharing important heart health information with people in our local community.
Introducing Short Films Bringing Heart Health Information to Life
Under the leadership of our Trustee, Dr Harmandeep Singh, we are producing a series of short, impactful films covering important heart health topics. The films use new technology, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), to help produce high-quality information in a simple and accessible format.
The first film, HEART ATTACKS (see film above), was shown at our AGM and will form part of an initial series of 10 short films. These will be followed by patient stories and information about heart medication.
The films will be shared through digital platforms people use every day, including YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, as well as the Heartlink website at heartlink.charity.
Our aim is to reach a much wider local audience and provide clear, reliable information that can help people recognise heart health problems, understand their risks and know when they should seek help.
The films support our Heart Health Campaign, which includes an Early Detection Programmeand aims to identify hidden heart health risks in our local community before they develop into serious illness.
The programme brings accessible “spot checks” directly into trusted community settings, combining health screening with education and advice. Checks are carried out by trained medical clinicians and pharmacy professionals from our partners at Chana Chemist, with Heartlink volunteers helping with engagement and follow-up.
Instagram and HARI – Heartlink Advice, Resources and Information
Alongside our new films, Heartlink's new Instagram page at #heartlink.charity went live at our AGM and is now available to the local community.
Our Instagram page ‘heartlink.charity’ provides another way for Heartlink to share information, updates and details of our activities with local people.
As part of our Instagram presence, we have also introduced HARI our new digital assistant.
HARI is designed to make it easier for people to find information about heart health, Heartlink's services, activities and resources. It gives people another simple way to access information when they need it.
You can find us on Instagram by searching for @heartlink.charity
or via the QR code above
These new digital services are an important step forward for Heartlink, helping us reach people in new ways while continuing our long-standing work of providing information, education and support for heart patients, their families and our local community.
Heartlink AGM Marks Major Progress
Heartlink’s fourth AGM as a registered charity, held at West Middlesex Golf Club on 1st Oct 2026, marked a year of significant growth, positive community impact and continued progress.
For MORE PHOTOS visit our Photo gallery - click HERE
For more than 30 years, Heartlink has worked to improve heart health in our local communities. This year, that reach grew further, supported by members, volunteers, healthcare professionals, community organisations, Councillors and local partners, including Southall Community Alliance, Chana Health Chemist, Ealing Hospital, Northwick Park Hospital and the British Punjabi Welfare Association.
Making a Difference Where It Matters
The need for Heartlink’s work remains clear. Diabetes rates in Southall are around twice the national average, while healthy life expectancy in parts of Southall and Northolt remains significantly lower than in more affluent areas of Ealing.
Over the past year, Heartlink:
- Our database of 870 members, including 270 new members.
- Benefited from more than 1,370 volunteer days.
- Delivered 80 hospital information desks and 40+ patient ward visits.
- Held 12 Community Hubs, attracting 45+ people per session.
- Ran 10 educational seminars, with 50+ attendees on average.
- Distributed more than 6,500 British Heart Foundation booklets.
- Organised around 48 health walks.
- Completed 23 community outreach visits.
Our Community Hub has also grown into a welcoming space for gentle exercise, friendship, information and mutual support, helping improve wellbeing and reduce isolation. Our weekly Wednesday Walkers have gone from strength to strength with increased participation and our Sponsored Walk.
At the centre of this work is Heartlink’s Heart Health Campaign, promoting awareness, healthier choices and potentially life-saving information.
All Heartlink activities remain free and open to everyone.
Celebrating Our Supporters
The AGM recognised individuals and organisations who have gone the extra mile, including Sukh Ghosh for climbing Mount Toubkal, George Lafford for organising the members’ trip to Margate, the British Punjabi Welfare Association for its charity walk, and Opkar Major for his fundraising efforts.
Special recognition was also given to Krishanjit and Mohinder for their longstanding dedication to Heartlink.
We were also delighted to celebrate Mr Gurdev Chana for leading our Chair Yoga sessions and Chana Chemist for its outstanding support of our community outreach and health testing programme. Their commitment continues to help us bring health awareness and vital checks directly into the community.
Looking Ahead
The AGM approved the annual reports and confirmed the Trustees and Management Committee who will guide Heartlink into its next chapter.
In his keynote speech Trustee Dr Harman highlighted the opportunities offered by digital technology, including new IT and social media initiatives to help Heartlink reach more people. He launched our new Heartlink Instagram account at @Heartlink.Charity.
The goal is not simply to increase our online presence, but to use these platforms effectively sharing heart health information, promoting activities, encouraging healthier lifestyles and connecting people with support they may not yet know is available.
There is plenty more to come.
Who we are.....
Why we are here
Welcome to Heartlink and our website!
Have a look round the site to get full details of what we do and our many activities
You can find help and advice about heart disease by clicking the link HERE.
We want you to join us, whether you need help yourself, want to help others or just want to get involved.
Heartlink is a local charity led by heart patients, for heart patients and their families. Based in Southall, Greenford, Hanwell, Ealing, and West London, we provide support and advice to those living with heart conditions, especially those undergoing or recovering from hospital treatment.
While clinical staff focus on medical care, Heartlink offers something equally vital, personal understanding and guidance from those who’ve been through the same journey.
We are deeply committed to raising awareness about heart disease risk factors within the community. By hosting educational workshops, health awareness events, and outreach campaigns, we help individuals identify and address common risks such as high blood pressure, poor diet, smoking, and lack of exercise.
Our goal is to empower people with the knowledge they need to make healthier choices and reduce their chances of developing heart-related conditions.
Our website is 'heartlink.charity'.
See the 'About us' section for fuller details of us and what we do.