About Circulation Foundation

The British Vascular Foundation is the only national charity dealing with all aspects of vascular disease.  It can affect all types of people, both young and old, sometimes with fatal results. 

The effects of vascular disease include varicose veins, leg ulcers, strokes, heart attacks and deep vein thrombosis – to name but a few. 

Vascular disease can result in a vast array of conditions.  Therefore more research is needed to enable vital breakthroughs to be made and increasing understanding of its causes. 

The British Vascular Foundation has only been in existence since 1992 but has already funded several major research projects, including studies into the causes of aneurysms and why some people are more prone to vascular disease as they grow older. 

The charity has also funded projects such as the establishment of a database for paediatric vascular disease, improvements in amputee rehabilitation and a genetic study to investigate how it is possible for a body to grow new blood vessels.  This important research will help people with poor leg circulation and avoid the need for amputation.

Better and earlier diagnosis will ensure that people are referred to vascular specialists sooner.  More work needs to be done to find new treatments and techniques for patients to avoid the need for surgery.

The BVF would like to enhance its information service even further to include the establishment of a telephone helpline.  The more informed patients become the better they can deal with their condition.

Our history

In 1992, recognising that there was no charity dealing with the vascular (circulatory) system and vascular disease as a whole, Mr Anthony Chant and Professor Sir Peter Bell, leading consultant vascular surgeons, established the British Vascular Foundation to satisfy a growing need in this important and under-funded medical field.

The Foundation aims to prevent ill-health due to vascular disease by drawing attention to its existence, prevalence and to the devastation that it causes, but also to the steps people can take to prevent it.

The Foundation’s main aim is to raise funds in order to make grants for research.  It also recognises the need for patient information and has produced a series of ten patient factsheets.  These are also available on the charity’s web site – www.bvf.org.uk

The Foundation has now established its credibility as an authority on vascular disease.  The charity is a corporate member of The Institute of Health Promotion and Education, a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities and is affiliated to The National Association of Patient Participation.  It is also formally supported by the Vascular Surgical Society of Great Britain and Ireland, the Society of Vascular Nurses, the Society for Vascular Technology and the Rouleaux Club (the society for trainee vascular surgeons).