A message from our founder
“When I lost my brother to congenital heart disease (CHD), it changed my life and those closest to me. I became determined to find a way to help children diagnosed with CHD and their families. My Hearts & Minds Foundation provides grants to multiple organisations that carry out valuable work in heart care. If you would like to help us help them, please donate. We make every penny count. The journey has just begun and I look forward to sharing every success story at every step of the way. Together, we can make a difference.”
The hearts & minds foundation story
Introducing the Hearts & Minds Foundation, a registered charity founded in January 2024. Created by entrepreneur, Tajinder Banwait MBE, in memory of her late brother, who died of congenital heart disease at the age of 18.
A successful beauty entrepreneur and business leader, Tajinder Banwait MBE, is best known for her fragrance lifestyle brand, Urban Apothecary. She created this multi-million-pound, award-winning company from scratch at her kitchen table in Leicester; the modern apothecary collection, including her renowned hand-poured candles, can be found in 34 countries worldwide. In February 2023, Tajinder launched the eco-beauty brand Palette London, her second business to be built from the bottom up.
In recognition of the positive impact of her work – as a Department for Business and Trade Midlands Export Champion, supporting British manufacturing, promoting female entrepreneurs and leading the way for South Asian businesses to thrive – Tajinder was awarded an MBE for services to Business and the Beauty Industry in the 2024 New Year Honours List.An enthusiastic mentor, Tajinder freely gives her time to organisations such as the Prince’s Trust and the Santander Breakthrough Women Business Leaders’ Mentoring Programme, amongst others. She is an inspiring role model committed to breaking down barriers for women seeking to enter the beauty industry and manufacturing.
The Hearts & Minds Foundation (H&MF) is Tajinder’s third enterprise, the idea for which grew over the decades following losing her brother to congenital heart disease. Following two years of planning, including officially registering, spending time with heart charities to find out what they need most and creating products to generate funds, the foundation began to take shape. In January 2024, the foundation was officially registered with a mission to relieve sickness and advance the health and well-being of children and young adults in the UK with Congenital and other heart conditions.
Who do we work with?
We align with heart care charities across the UK that specialise in congenital heart disease.
Our founder
An expert in building successful businesses from the ground up, Tajinder Banwait MBE, created the Hearts & Minds Foundation to help children and young adults with congenital heart disease.
“Having experienced first-hand losing someone to congenital heart disease (CHD) and how it changed my life and those closest to me, I became determined to find a way to help children with CHD lead full and active lives and at the same time support their families.
The Hearts & Minds Foundation (H&MF) was years in the making, an idea that grew over the decades following losing my brother to CHD. In the last two years, much planning has gone into it, including spending time with heart charities to learn what they need most and creating products to generate funds.
We officially registered in January 2024 with a mission to relieve sickness and advance the health and well-being of children and young adults with CHD in the UK. The following spring, our Rose Oudh hand-poured candles and diffusers, specifically created to generate funds, were being hand-finished, packed and ready to sell.
From the outset, it was important for me to share the initiative with those closest to me. On the 11th of May 2024, the Hearts & Minds Foundation officially launched at a private celebration with family and friends.
The H&MF will provide grants to multiple organisations that do valuable heart care work. If you would like to help us help them, please donate. The journey has just begun, and I look forward to sharing every success story at every step of the way. Together, we can make a difference.”
Join our mission
Donate today, or visit our shop and choose a product. Either way, you’ll be helping to advance the health and wellbeing of children and young adults with CHD.
A heartfelt thank you
If you wish to donate, we thank you for your generosity on behalf of children and young adults with congenital heart disease in the UK.