Growing Hearts, Growing Futures

Liverpool Heartbeat, founded by Robin Baynes MBE, has been inspiring young people across Merseyside and the Northwest to live healthy, confident, fulfilling lives since 2002 — and we’re still loving every minute.

Robin Baynes: A Legacy of Heart

Robin Spencer Baynes was born on 14 September 1945, the first child of Jess and Alfred “Spen” Baynes — a former Royal Navy Chief Stoker — while Jess served as a WREN in Liverpool’s Western Approaches. His brother Allen arrived six years later, and Robin grew up in Makin Street, Walton, attending Arnott Street School.

More interested in swimming than academics, Robin became a regional schoolboy champion by 14 and competed nationally in butterfly. In the late 1980s he joined the City of Liverpool Swimming Club, swimming competitively in the Masters section for fifteen years. He even swam the River Mersey and the English Channel as part of charity relay teams.

Through swimming he formed a lifelong friendship with Kenny O’Toole, whose sudden passing in 2001 inspired much of Robin’s later fundraising.

Building for the future

At 15, Robin left school to work as an apprentice joiner at Unit Construction, earning £2 for a 60‑hour week. While attending Kirkby College he met fellow Teddy Boy Ray Parr, another lifelong friend.

After moving to Kirkby, Robin met Brenda Hewitt; they married in March 1964 at just 18 and remain together today. Their children — Stephen (1964), Neil (1968) and Nicola (1969) — completed the family, who lived in several Liverpool homes before settling in Formby in 1979.

Before the move, Robin met business partner Norman Ritson, and together they built a successful company that supported both families. After the loss of Brenda’s sister Barbara in 1993, Robin organised a series of sponsored events with friends and North West Water, raising £30,000 for the Royal Liverpool Hospital.

Record-breaking New Start

Robin later founded New Start, a social enterprise providing housing and support for vulnerable adults. Through determination and family involvement, it grew into a major organisation supporting over 400 people across Merseyside. In 2005, New Start won Family Business of the Year for its contribution to the community.

Following Kenny O’Toole’s death, Robin raised £10,000 for the British Heart Foundation by organising a record‑breaking Scotland‑to‑Ireland relay swim. His community work led him to West Derby Rotary Club, where he became Chairman in 2006 and received the Paul Harris Fellow Award in 2007.

Our Journey and Community Impact

• David Graham High School Tour — An interactive programme running for over 16 years, inspiring school children to make healthy choices, stay active and become responsible citizens.

• The John Hulley Legacy — Reviving the story of Victorian Olympian pioneer John Hulley through community sports events, films and school comics that celebrate movement, heritage and local pride.
  
  Festive Toy Appeals: Distributing thousands of Christmas gifts annually to children in need alongside local groups.
  

• Cultural & Community Projects — From Mersey swims and peace‑themed art installations to Find Your Voice, a unique singing project led by Liverpool Heartbeat Ambassador Sophie Clarke, these initiatives bring creativity, confidence and community spirit to young people across Merseyside.

Recognition

• MBE Award: Presented to Robin Baynes by Queen Elizabeth II in November 2010 for voluntary and charitable service.

• Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service: Awarded to Liverpool Heartbeat volunteers in October 2022