Why This Scottish Charity Is Going Global

SBN Member Stories | Billy Farrell, Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland

From internationally accessed healthcare resources to new relationships with the Scottish diaspora, Billy Farrell is exploring how a Scottish charity can build a more sustainable future by looking beyond its traditional sources of income.

For many people, Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland is a familiar name on the Scottish high street. Its charity shops are an important part of its work, helping to raise funds and maintain a visible presence in communities across the country.

But behind that familiar name is an organisation exploring new opportunities far beyond Scotland.

Billy Farrell, Director of Income Generation at Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, is looking at how the charity can develop sustainable income, build international partnerships and make greater use of its healthcare expertise.

It's an ambitious approach, and one that could offer lessons for charities across Scotland.

Billy recently joined Scottish Business Network CEO Scott Dalgleish for the first episode of SBN Member Stories, a new series exploring the people, projects and ambitions within SBN's global community.

Looking beyond traditional fundraising

Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland supports people living with chest, heart and stroke conditions, as well as long COVID, with Billy explaining that around one in five people in Scotland live with one of these conditions, highlighting the scale of the challenge facing the charity. His responsibility is to help generate the income needed to reach more people with support when they need it.

Traditional fundraising and charity retail remain important, but Billy believes there is an opportunity to think more broadly about the organisation's assets and expertise. The charity has already expanded its online retail presence and is exploring new business development opportunities, and at the heart of this approach is a question: what does the charity already have that others around the world might value?

Scottish healthcare expertise with a global audience

One of the most interesting opportunities comes from the charity's healthcare information and learning resources.

Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland has developed evidence-based materials that help people understand and manage their conditions. Its resources are used by patients, carers, healthcare professionals and people studying for careers in healthcare. Its e-learning platform is already attracting international interest, with the United States and China among its largest audiences outside the UK.

For Billy, this creates an interesting opportunity. Rather than developing an entirely new international product, Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland is exploring whether it’s world class resources could generate sustainable income in other markets.

Connecting with Scotland's global community

Alongside these commercial opportunities, Billy is exploring how the Scottish diaspora could help the charity build relationships internationally. Millions of people around the world have Scottish heritage, or a strong connection to Scotland, and many more are involved in Scottish societies, professional networks, cultural organisations and community groups. For Billy, the opportunity is about developing lasting relationships rather than simply approaching people for donations.

The charity has begun contacting St Andrew's societies internationally and is interested in connecting with individuals who could champion its work in different countries. Billy is also preparing to visit Hong Kong on a trade mission, providing another opportunity to explore international relationships and potential markets.

These efforts reflect the broader ambition to connect Scotland's charitable sector with people and organisations around the world who want to make a difference.

A different approach to sustainable income

Billy also raises an important question about the future of charitable funding.

With household budgets under pressure and people facing increasing living costs, charities cannot assume that traditional sources of donations will continue to grow, and that makes diversification increasingly important. For Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, international opportunities could mean commercial partnerships, wider distribution of its resources, new supporters or relationships that develop into something valuable over time.

It is not about replacing fundraising but instead about building additional ways to sustain the charity's work, and it is an approach that other Scottish charities may wish to consider.

The Ask: How can the SBN community help Billy?

Every SBN Member has an Ask, and Billy’s ask to the SBN community is clear.

He wants people to help raise awareness of Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, share its work and make introductions that could help the charity develop relationships internationally.

There are several ways to help:

• Amplify the charity's work. Follow Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland and share its campaigns, resources and awareness activities with your networks.
• Make introductions. Connect Billy with Scottish societies, diaspora organisations, community leaders or individuals overseas who may be interested in supporting the charity.
• Explore event partnerships. If you're organising a St Andrew's Day celebration or another Scottish community event, consider whether Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland can be the charity partner of the occasion.

For Billy, introductions are particularly valuable. Not every relationship needs to produce an immediate result but building connections now could open doors in the future.

Making meaningful connections

Billy's story demonstrates why Scottish Business Network created Member Stories.

Across our international community are people working on interesting projects, developing new ideas and looking for opportunities to grow their impact. By sharing their stories and giving them a platform to make a specific Ask, we hope to turn those conversations into meaningful connections.

If you can help Billy or would like to explore an opportunity with Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, we encourage you to get in touch.

Watch the full conversation with Billy Farrell in our first SBN Member Stories interview.

Learn more about Scottish Business Network and our global community at www.sbn.scot