The programme allows eligible groups to apply for a free defibrillator for their community or organisation, allocating the defibrillators to areas of greatest need.
Successful awards include a defibrillator, cabinet, materials for free online CPR training as well as free installation if required.
Applications are reviewed monthly to ensure that defibrillators are award to the communities that need them the most, prioritising areas that have fewer registered defibrillators.
Using various data sets to assess multiple factors in each postcode (such as incidence rates of cardiac arrest), awards are then made to ensure defibrillator is going to areas of greatest need.
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You must be applying on behalf of a community group. Some examples of groups we accept are:
Awards cannot be made to the following, though this is not an exhaustive list:
In November 2024, Cheshire Phoenix player Sam Booth suffered a cardiac arrest during a Jnr. NBL game.
The quick thinking of staff from both teams, spectating parents – some of whom gave Sam CPR – and the rapid arrival of the air ambulance, along with the availability of an on-site defibrillator, all played their part in making sure the outcome was a positive one.
The incident highlighted the importance of first aid training, the availability of a defibrillator and, where possible, cardiac screening.
“It’s vital that defibs are available – and crucially, that people know where they are and how to use them. The incident with Sam last year was a stark reminder of the importance of that.
"Defibs should be accessible within one minute of a court or gym to get the best outcome from such an event.
“We, as Basketball England, continue to support all our clubs to offer guidance, resources and information about training and obtaining the right equipment, and the reopening of the Community Defib Funding Programme is a positive development that all clubs should explore."
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